interview
Determined to ‘give something back’, last year saw her visit local councils to talk about fire safety, and she recently featured in a BBC documentary entitled ‘My Wig And Me’. ‘I wanted to take part in the programme
to change people’s preconceptions about being bald and to show that there is no need for embarrassment or shame at having to wear a wig. When you consider that the other two people featured were both suffering from cancer, then I think I have got off pretty lightly with alopecia!’ Frankie’s appearance on ‘My Wig and Me’
was one of the reasons behind local magazine Local Women’s decision to present her with their ‘Woman of the Year’ award, with the magazine’s team describing her as ‘inspirational’. Frankie is currently taking a break from
work and modelling and simply enjoying being at home as a full-time mum to Oliver. ‘I honestly don’t know where the day goes.
“Chris went back to work and I thought I’d been hit by a whirlwind! Motherhood definitely changes you. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it’s also the most rewarding. I’ve got to the point where I’ve learned to exist without much sleep”
another would ignite. Gradually, the plastic from the pyjama set melted into my leg.’ Frankie was leſt with third degree burns
down the leſt-hand side of her body; the scars of which still remain with her today. Ten, at the age of 18, Frankie noticed a
bald patch in her hair close to her ear. Over the next weeks the patch got bigger until, aſter six weeks, her hair had almost entirely gone! ‘It was so strange,’ Frankie continues. ‘Te
doctor started me on steroids and I was referred to the dermatologist but, by the
time the appointment came round, the dermatologist was off on maternity leave. I had to wait for another appointment and then the dermatologist broke her leg, so by the time I was actually seen in the December of that year, I was completely bald and they said there was nothing that they could do for me in dermatology. Ironically, during my pregnancy, every bit of my hair grew back!’ Between the third-degree burns and the
alopecia, you’d totally understand it if Frankie felt sorry for herself for what she has experienced, but there’s no chance of that!
MODERNMUM 9
I’m especially flummoxed by what happens to those three hours between feeds when I still think about the things that I’m going to do and then all of a sudden it’s feeding time again! When I first came home from the hospital, Chris had two weeks’ paternity leave so he was here with me. I was running about thinking about the ‘silly girls’ who say that it’s difficult being a mum. Ten Chris went back to work and I thought I’d been hit by a whirlwind! Motherhood definitely changes you. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it’s also the most rewarding. I’ve got to the point where I’ve learned to exist without much sleep and if it wasn’t for my fruit and veg vitamin tablets I think I’d be asleep quicker than Oliver!’ she laughs. „
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84