Being this close to Mother’s Day we decided to invite our moms to the vitiligo-support group we meet each month. We wanted to hear their side of the story, having a Vitiligan child and how hard it was for them or what was going through their heads during this process.
I was lucky that my mom decided to join us to share her story. It really was an eye opener for me, because there was a lot of things I never knew, until that day.
My mom shared that when I was diagnosed with vitiligo, the first question that came into her mind was, was this my fault? When I was 4 years old, I got lost in a convention center in Chicago, which is huge! So, for my parents those 30 min, where the longest 30 min of their lives.
My mom expressed that she thought about that day when they told her that it could’ve been triggered by an emotional situation, stress, anxiety,or all the emotional relation vitiligo has with us.
And then, she remembered that when she was pregnant with me, she had to be careful, because it was a high-risk pregnancy. So, she couldn’t help thinking that maybe when I was in her tummy, she might have transmitted that stress to me that she expierenced during her pregnancy and those fears as well.
Listing to her that day made me realized that not only we go through the process, but our loved ones also go through one too. It comes from the love they feel for us and because I know they don’t want us to suffer. Moms will always worry for their kids, if somebody will give them a hard time or bully them. And adding something physically visible for them to use it against them, will make that worry even bigger.
But now, as an adult I just want to thank my family, my friends and specially my mom who went through this journey of treatments, doctors appointments, remedies, etc. with me. They all found a way of showing me love no matter what. They taught me how to see my skin with acceptance and love so I could be able to show the people around me to see it the same way I did. And with all the lessons that vitiligo has given me, I am on a point in my life where I wouldn’t change a thing.
We don’t realize that the lessons we teach, or we learn from others doesn’t stops there. It is what we end up transmitting to somebody else when we give some advice, a pep talk or we try to cheer somebody up. So, to my mom and all the moms out there who ever doubted any of this, I just want to say that this was never your fault. The way I see it, I was chosen to see the world from another perspective. I was given the opportunity to have such an amazing support group around me, that now I can share this way of thinking with somebody else struggling with their skin. You gave me the tools, the strength and knowledge to at least try to continue with that chain of self-love and acceptance.
So, all I have left to say is: THANK YOU!!
And I know that there is a lot of things we can learn from this journey. But now I would love to read from you guys what has this journey thaught you? Wether you have vitiligo or you have a vitiligan relative or friend. I would like to read about it in the comments below!
Written by: Andrea Islas
IG: @Mivitiligoyyo
Yo estoy desde el otro lado soy madre , tengo un hijo de 7 años quien me enseña a diario su eterno amor en sus ojos mis manchitas son hermosas, piel que ilumina dice el , eso sumado a tu blog y la participación en el grupo de apoyo de vitíligo me abrieron los ojos ante otras personas que pasan lo mismo que yo y como enfrentan esto, si bien existen días en que mi ánimo no esta del todo bien , intento todos los días sentir que lo más importante es lo que llevamos dentro que eso nos define como personas y trasciende.
Como siempre agradecida de este blog.