Ally has a hair-pulling disorder. She’s had it since she was four. What started as pure curiosity – “Hey, eyelashes come out when you pull on them!” – became a terrible burden in her life. She pulled at her lashes when she had asthma treatment as a child. Things got worse as a teen, and in college her eye lashes were gone all-together.
All around her, Ally felt the pressure of advertisements and friends to have long, beautiful lashes. Two boys she liked also noticed her bare eyelids. Feeling perpetually humiliated and embarrassed, she tried her best to hide it, but couldn’t. No treatments had helped her rid herself of this disorder (trichotillomania).
Then, on her honeymoon in Chicago, Ally and her husband felt a spur-of-the-moment inspiration to drive 4 extra hours to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. A recent revert, Ally had just finished a 33-day consecration to Mary.
She knew what she wanted to pray about.
As they were leaving the shrine, Ally’s husband suggested they go down stairs. Ally hesitated, as it appeared to just be a basement. To her joy, it was the oratory that marks the spot where Mary appeared to Adele Brise... and they had Our Lady’s attention all to themselves! The room was empty.
Ally knelt before the towering statue of Mary glowing orange in the surrounding autumn flower arrangements. She prayed for her hair pulling disorder.
“Mother Mary, if this not something you want me to suffer with, if this is not my cross to bear, if God doesn’t want this for me, please give me a sign and give me the strength to stop.”
And through Mary, God’s grace abounded! Since the visit 5 years ago, Ally has not had a bare eye lid. Her husband often tells her how beautiful her lashes look. She still pulls, but she has the strength to stop herself now. In her words, “Mary gave me the confirmation that this is not God’s will for me. I am very devoted to this shrine and visit almost yearly. I used to be deeply embarrassed about this disorder, but I am better at sharing if it helps someone and especially if they grow closer to Mother Mary. I will never forget that special time with Our Lady as long as I live.”
“When I want to pull, if I think about Our Lady of Good Help or ask Mother Mary to help. Even if I am in the midst of it, I immediately get a sense of relief. But it’s like anything in this life, I have to cooperate and put my hand down.”
A few years later, Ally’s husband joined the Catholic Church. Every Sunday at Mass, Ally sits in front of a statue of Mary and reconsecrates herself to Our Lady. Because it contains the word “eyes,” the prayer of consecration reminds her of the graces she received at the shrine.
