One woman's inspiring story

Pliszka's hair loss began at the young age of 13. For the next several years, Pliszka went from doctor to doctor to see if they could find the cause of the bald spots but had no luck.

"Within one month, I was forced to wear a wig to conceal the bald area," said Pliszka. "I looked like a cancer patient losing hair from chemo. The huge difference is that I was not sick at all. I didn't have cancer."

After some more tests, Pliszka learned she has an autoimmune disorder called alopecia universalis. Only one percent of the entire alopecia (balding) population has universalis. The universalis part of the disorder means that Pliszka has no hair over her entire body—not even inside her nose.

People with alopecia universalis produce too many white blood cells which kill off infection. Pliszka's body thinks that her hair is an infection, so it kills of all the hair cells. However, the mutated gene that causes her immune system to overproduce the white blood cells also helps make her a very healthy person.

"I have a super woman-like immune system," Pliszka said.

Instead of feeling bad for herself, Pliszka began her education as a therapist. Today she has a Master's degree and is currently working on a PHD. She focuses her spare time on volunteering, inventing and writing books. Each time I open myself through the media or my books, I help so many people, and in return, I strengthen myself," said Pliszka.

Her two award-winning books, Bella & Gizmo's Adventure—The Hairless Sphinx Cats and Bella Gets a New Sweater revolve around a hairless Sphinx named Gizmo who is ridiculed for being different and soon becomes friends with another hairless cat named Bella. The books aim to help children understand the differences in people and the world, as well as to undo stereotypes.

Her books and the accompanying doll earned Pliszka the 2005 Parent-to-Parent Adding Wisdom Award for best children's books and dolls, the sole award recognized by Disney.com.

"I feel very humbled and honored to accept the award," admitted Pliszka. "I am so pleased to know that my books and dolls went through a rigorous testing process with real moms, dads and children, and they felt that my books and Bella doll were worthy of adding wisdom to society and deserving of the award.

"The more children learn about being different, the more prejudice will be eliminated," added Pliszka.

Pliszka became attached to the hairless Sphinx after watching Animal Planet with her 2-year-old daughter Jess.

"It was love at first site. I thought I should have a bald cat as well," Pliszka said. "So I got my first Sphinx from a breeder in New York, where I was living at that time. I knew that I could use this loveable, bald kitty to teach my daughter about differences in this world and help her see that bald could be beautiful…just in a different form."

It was not long after that Pliszka began contemplating using her two cats as the topic of discussion in a book to help her daughter understand baldness and the differences in the world.

"I thought if I used Bella and Gizmo, Jess could understand easier," Pliszka said. Pliszka then began reading her stories to kids that she worked with in the Look Good Feel Better group of the American Cancer Society, those at the Alopecia Support Group and others at her daughter's school.

"The response was so incredible by children and parents; I was encouraged to get my stories published."

A few years later, Pliszka was published and winning awards. She enjoys sharing her message of acceptance at schools and acknowledged that children love seeing the real Bella and Gizmo. During her readings, children seem to understand tolerance and acceptance and begin loving themselves for who they are, according to Pliszka.

"My goal is educate people about alopecia and try to break the Barbie-doll stereotype that children get slammed with daily in media campaigns," Pliszka said. "I want to show children that they are perfect just the way they are and beauty comes from within. I want to encourage children and adults with issues that make them feel different and show them—through my big, bald, shiny head—that who you are is the most important thing in the world, not what you look like."

You can find information and purchase her books by visiting her Web site.