Shanna & Paul are the parents Kiara & Kaleah.

I'm sure that being a mother of a child with any thing that stands out from other kids is difficult, however, being a mother of a child with vitiligo is painful because people often see your child and think that she may be contagious. They have been known to move their children away for fear of what may happen to their own child.  It can make you feel isolated and alone.

The AVRF has been a tremendous help in bridging the gap between other people's perceptions of what vitiligo is and is not.  We have become much stronger in our resolve to educate the public about this disease because of them.  Through their seminars, they have taught us "strength in numbers" the kids come together and are strengthened by the connectedness to each other. They give the families a place to share not only information, but to vent our frustration with what each individual goes through in their own communities.

Embracing Diversity is what we as families with vitiligo do each day. Living with this truly teaches people to look past the outside of a person to find what is important.  My daughter is always looking out for other children that may not fit in.  She knows how it feels and how it hurts.  We live in a diverse world and everyone comes with our own set of issues.

Judge ye not, less ye be judged!