American Girl dolls were definitely an important part of my childhood.
Back when I was a kid, these dolls were just beginning to evolve into cute customizable creations that you could make to look just like you.
But these customizations now stretch far past hair color and freckles.
Today, you can include on your American Girl doll everything from diabetes devices to wheelchairs to prosthetic limbs.
You can even specially order a doll without hair, which is the perfect playmate for little girls who may be undergoing treatments that cause them to lose their hair.
One particular girl was over the moon when she got her own American Girl for Christmas sans hair, which helped her cope with her alopecia symptoms.
But she was even more excited when she visited their Natick Mall store and saw a bald American Girl doll prominently displayed in the store among all the others with hair.
Her mother, Meredith Bailey, was so touched by the company's amazing ability to showcase every girl's beauty regardless of circumstance that she posted a sweet note to them via Facebook.
And her daughter isn't the only one positively affected by these dolls. Scroll through below to read the mother's complete message, thanking the company for celebrating ALL American girls, and to see two very special girls who love their new dolls!
[H/T: Huffington Post]
This mother's incredible thank-you note to American Girl reads:
"I have always been a loyal supporter of your company.
"I still have my Pleasant Company dolls from 1988 that my daughter now enjoys.
"I was so happy to start my daughter with her own collection.
"When she was 4 she was diagnosed with alopecia."
"This past Christmas she received a doll without hair and nothing has thrilled her more.
"She did ask at one point why they were not on display at the store.
"I did not have a good answer to give her.
"Yesterday, we made our annual birthday celebration with her best friend to the Natick store."
"On the second floor we hopped off the escalator and there in front of us was a display with a doll without hair!
"My daughter was ecstatic!"
"Then we saw them in 2 more spots in the store!
"These dolls were not hidden in the back and had to be asked for."
"They were there for all to see, especially for my daughter who wondered why they were not out before."
"This may feel to your company to be 'no big deal,' but to little girls who may feel 'alone' and so desperately want to see dolls that reflect their beauty — it means more than you know."
"I cried many happy tears yesterday. Thank you so much for including ALL children."
For the two young girls featured in the photos of this piece, it means the world to have a doll who looks just like them.
What do you think of these dolls and this mom's incredible letter? Let us know in the comments!
If you are a major American Girl fan, remember to SHARE this story with friends and family on Facebook!
