Michelle
by Cristina

I never heard of vitiligo until my precious daughter, Michi, was diagnosed with it at the age of 6. It started with a small white patch on her inner left arm. It was a heartbreaking experience as I searched the web for articles on vitiligo. Although I know that it is not life threatening, the emotional stress was always there. How I wished I had the vitiligo instead of my dearest daughter!

When people would ask Michi about her skin disorder during the initial stage of her vitiligo, she talks about it, candidly innocent and without feeling the stigma attached to the disease. It didn’t affect her so much when one of her classmates even called her “Dalmatian”. However, as she got older, she started to feel embarrassed when someone noticed her skin disorder. She now ignores people who persistently ask her about it.

Somehow I know that this ailment, coupled with the insensitivity of some people, affect her socially and psychologically. Despite this, however, she remains happy and active. To comfort her, I usually tell her that when our Lord comes again, in a twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed into perfect beings.

My husband and I have been blessed by the research conducted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila that utilizes the BClear phototherapy treatment. Since pigmentation on some parts of her skin were very obvious, Michi was the first recipient of this form of treatment.

My daughter’s response to the treatment is very positive. She applies the meladinine cream herself as an alternative treatment for BClear phototherapy. Michi looks forward to her visits with the dermatologist.

It is our earnest prayer that AVRF finally finds a cure for this disease.