Ellie wanted to help other young people with hair loss

A teenager has cut her long hair for The Little Princess Trust after seeing just how much a wig meant to her younger sister.

Emilia Mackay lost her hair after undergoing treatment for aplastic anaemia when she was just five years old.

Her dad James said the experience of hair loss can still be seen to this day as Emilia recoils when she sees old pictures of herself without hair.

The family from Worcestershire contacted The Little Princess Trust before Emilia began chemotherapy and were delighted to see the transformation in Emilia’s confidence and self-esteem following her wig fitting.

Ellie, Emilia’s 13-year-old sister, had always loved having long hair but decided to donate her lengthy locks to The Little Princess Trust to help other young people with hair loss.

James said: “Ellie could see the difference in her sister when she got the wig and wanted to do something to help other children in a similar situation to Emilia.”

As well as chemotherapy, Emilia underwent a stem cell transplant before spending many weeks in isolation – both at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and at home.

Doctors told the family that her treatment went as well as expected and, now aged seven, is back at school full-time.

Emilia still has regular check-ups and will need to take antibiotics daily for the rest of her life, but she is making up for lost time socialising with her friends.

James said he and his wife Steph are grateful to the many charities who supported the family during Emilia’s treatment and, as Ellie has shown with her haircut, they won’t forget the impact a wig had.

“Hair is a massive factor in how we see ourselves,” added James. “And it is even more important and relevant for young children when they are going through so much in their lives.”