Local business owner helps children with hair loss
By Mary Shane Contributing Writer

Mia Malone and Siri Caya, of Siri's Wig Boutique PHOTO/MARY SHANE

Shrewsbury - Siri Caya, a native of Norway and the owner of Siri's Wig Boutique in Shrewsbury, and her associate, Mia Malone, also a native of Norway and a journalist by trade, volunteer their time, services and expertise to help kids who need a medical prosthesis (wig) because of chemotherapy, radiation, burns and all types of Alopecia.

Recently, a mother asked Caya for help in quickly finding a medical prosthesis for her young child. In her search, Caya was referred to Children with Hair Loss, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free medical prosthetics to kids in need once a year until age 21. The group's founder and CEO is Regina Villemore.

Caya arranged for Villemore and the mother to talk to each other. Within a week, a wig was mailed to the child's home. Caya opened her salon on a Saturday for a private cutting and fitting of the prosthetic and refused payment for her four hours of service.

"There are people out there who can't get wigs for their kids," Caya said. "A lot of people don't know that insurance will pay for a wig. But not everybody has insurance. And the medical prosthetics from Children with Hair Loss are very, very good quality, hand-tied and top-of-the-line."

"We want people to know about this, that there are options to get help," Malone added. "We're proud volunteers for Children with Hair Loss. We're so happy and excited to be a part of this. The important thing is the child gets the correct medical prosthesis."

Malone knows exactly how kids feel about losing their hair and what it might mean for them. At age 18 she faced surgery and her head was shaved, and over the course of her treatment, her head was shaved two more times.

Applications for a free wig are available from www. childrenwithhairloss.us or at Siri's Wig Boutique. Completed applications and a doctor's letter are faxed to the organization. The prosthetic is made and sent to Siri's Wig Boutique. Caya then notifies the child's family to make an appointment to cut and style the piece, a service she provides for free.

Caya has advice for parents whose child has hair loss.

"Wait until they ask for one [a wig]," she said. "Kids are okay with or without hair. If you are a little kid, you don't think about it. Buy a pretty bow or a baseball hat or ribbons. Wait until they say, 'I wish I had hair.'"

Siri's Wig Boutique is located on the lower level of Victor-Victoria at 344A Boston Turnpike in Shrewsbury. The wig-fitting service is private and by appointment only; a separate wheelchairaccessible entrance is available. The phone number is 508-799-2500.

"We have a very, very good partnership with Victor-Victoria," Caya said. "I want as many kids to take advantage of this as possible."