Kathy is the mother of 10-year old NaDajiah.

It is one of the most painful situations I have ever gone through in my life. My heart aches every time I see someone pointing, staring or even calling her names. It hurts so much because she knows I will protect her from anything and anybody and this is something out of my control, there is nothing I can do and that's the part that rips at my heart the most. I shed many tears looking at her beautiful face fall when people treat her the way they do, this world is cruel and ignorant. People actually stand there and stare at her, some parents grab their kids thinking she is contagious. People walk up to us and say, “oooh is she burned”, right there in front of her face. I really can't describe how I feel because it hurts down in your stomach. You want to attack the world. I wish everyone that treats her badly could walk in her shoes for one day.

I try and educate as many people as I can about vitiligo. Because of their ignorance, people don't understand how I have to build my babies self esteem everyday. I am afraid to let her go in the toy department by herself and other places alone because I need to be there to protect her. I am always on the lookout for people no matter where we go some days are better than others but she cannot go anywhere without being ridiculed.

If it weren't for the AVRF, I would be half crazy trying to deal with it. I had no knowledge of vitiligo, the doctors weren't helpful, they just tell you what she has, that there's nothing you can do and basically deal with it. When we went to Florida , to the AVRF seminar that was like breathing life into NaDajiah. They gave her hope and it boosted her spirits, the AVRF gave her the self-esteem that she had lost. The AVRF made her feel normal... which she is, she knows that she is special, she is able to relate more to vitiligo because she now knows its more that just her with vitiligo, she can explain to you what it is and tell you all about this. We thank God for the AVRF and their members. She has met so many people thru the AVRF she also now has an extended family because of them. You had to be there to see the glow on her face when we went to Florida ... the confidence she had. Don't get me wrong she still goes thru the stupidity of some people but the AVRF was and is a true blessing for NaDajiah and the family. She knows she has people besides her immediate family out there fighting for her looking out for her and encouraging her. We have nothing but love for the AVRF.

I hope everyone will embrace diversity. God created us all and we are who he wants us to be, we need to stop discrimination because of how we look, what complexion we have or how big we are. We are all equal; we are as one, as the old saying goes don't judge a book by its cover. There is no perfect person in the world, there is something about each of us that we would like to change if we could, but we all are Gods' children and every one deserves to be treated with respect, and kindness regardless of who you are or where you came from.

Love is very powerful and a smile costs you nothing.