A member of a family of skilled athletes, hardworking Luca Wernick was navigating the rigors of a new job when unexplained symptoms started to manifest. “Learning I had alopecia was something that was very confusing and troubling given the way it happened,” Luca says. “With nobody in my family ever having it, nor many around me, I never really knew what it was before it affected me.” Arising without warning, the disease required Luca to fundamentally shift his life and relationships. He continues, “... when it sprung up and I lost all the hair on my body within months, it was especially stressful not knowing what could have caused it. It also affected me in ways I never could have expected ... having to reintroduce myself to people I haven’t seen in a while and at my new job whom I had met one week with hair and again a few weeks later with none.”
Luca was tasked with reorienting his life—but thanks to his family, he would not have to handle this challenge alone. “We have a very supportive relationship where we can approach all of life’s hurdles together,” his sister Paola explains. “We are a support system for each other like no other.” In the face of Luca’s unexpected diagnosis, the family relied on their strong bonds. They rallied around Luca, providing solace and motivation as their understanding of alopecia deepened.
Familiar with NewYork-Presbyterian's presence in the region, Luca sought care at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “I am in awe of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s vast network of medical professionals and first-class care,” Paola states. Luca found himself working with a dedicated team of care professionals who centered his experience in their approaches to treatment. “I felt really heard and given the time of day... I was happy to learn about their expertise with alopecia, and it made me comfortable knowing I was going to experts,” he says.
