Kaleah

Hi, my name is Kaleah and I’m 16 years old. I’ve been living with Vitiligo for 13 years. It started with a small dot on my left eye and has rapidly progressed since. When I was really young, I was shy and felt like I was ugly; I thought I was the only person in the world with spots.  Lincoln, Nebraska is a pretty small place, pretty much everyone knows each other, and if you don’t know them, you’re usually kind to them.

Even in the protective walls of my elementary school, I was occasionally teased and taunted for being different. I had no confidence in myself and didn’t like talking about it with my parents because when I’m upset they get upset as well, and I don’t like seeing people sad. I can’t explain the love that my parents have for me. It is selfless and unconditional; they strive to make me happy. So the days at school when I was teased, I would just come home and cry and pray to God that He would help me.

When I was 9 years old God led my family to the AVRF and we found Stella. When I got to the seminar that year, I met so many amazing people that would change my life forever. Stella, Marilyn, and everyone at the AVRF taught me that it’s okay to be different, that God made you like this for a reason, and you should be proud of it. Because of Stella, Marilyn, Professor’s Wood and Schallreuter and my family, I’ve have grown into a young women who is proud of who she is. I’m glad God gave me this disease because now I can help those kids who were once like me. I know that everyone has beauty inside and out and some people need a little help showing it.

As a kid I hated going for treatments. I wanted to live my life as normal as possible. I didn’t want this disease to hold me back. Some treatments made me blister or get really bad sunburns in the summer and affected how I played in my sports. I still would rather not do any treatments. I know in my heart that we are close to a breakthrough.

When I was first asked to write this, I was nervous about what to say. I don’t like talking about my skin. When I’m at home, I store away all Vitiligo thoughts because it makes me upset, but as I write this paper I’m no longer angry, I’m thankful. I’m thankful for my family who tries so hard for me. I’m thankful for Stella and the AVRF; they showed me I’m not alone and to be proud of who I am. I’m thankful for everyone who made me feel beautiful in my own skin. And thank you Professor John Wood*, your silliness brought back the silliness I had lost in myself. John, I miss you with all my heart and it hurts that I wasn’t able to tell you how much you contributed to me being me. And thank you God for making these people a part of my family – thank you for blessing me with this disease.
 
God Bless,
Kaleah

* In memory of John Wood, AVRF Medical Advisory Board