The girl with vitigilo

Dedicated to those people who turn their insecurities into a work of art.

Synopsis

Athena, wasn't like any other girl, she was always highlighted as different. From a young age, it changed her life completely and that is because she started to suffer from vitiligo.

What’s Vitiligo?

Vitiligo is a disease that destroys the melanocytes in the skin. It can appear for different reasons, it is a disease that has no cure, but it is not one of those diseases that can kill you, vitiligo is different and it is the subject that Athena, our protagonist, is going to tell us about through her experience.

Chapter 1

My first experience

When I was a child, my skin began to change, white spots appeared without explanation, first on my arms and then they spread to other areas.At first they were small and they didn't worry me at all, but when I saw that they were becoming more and more noticeable, it scared me.

I thought it was normal to have it, I took it as if it were a stage that everyone has, but what I did not know is that everything was going to change in my life.

Chapter 2

The flashback

27/9/2008~9 years old

One day when I was on the beach, I noticed that I had burned my arms, Mom told me that it happened to me because I had not put enough sunscreen on, but that it was nothing serious. It hurt too much but I was able to last several days thanks to a special cream that my father bought in a pharmacy. After a week of putting that cream on, it no longer hurt, but when I looked in the mirror, I had 2 very large spots on my two arms, so I went downstairs and went to the kitchen, that's where my mother was preparing the food, when she saw those stains on my arms she thought it was the fault of the cream I had put on and that we should go to the doctor immediately. We were at the hospital and a sweet lady dressed in white with a red cross hat told us to sit in the waiting room and that they would attend to us quickly. Then a man without a large white coat told us to come in,he looked very intimidating and the only thing i was looking at was that strange object around his neck.

-Please, sit down ——The man indicated the two chairs that were in front of a table and we both sat dow—

-Hello, Athena Woods White, Right? —He spoke breaking the silence in the room.—

-Yes that’s my daughter's name.—My mother replied in a tone of voice that was too cordial.—

-So…What’s wrong with her?—He fixed his gaze on mine and smiled sweetly at me—

-She has 2 very large white spots on her arms. We were on vacation and we went to the beach, my daughter came and told me that she had burned her two arms, I told her that it would not be anything serious, but she had been complaining of the pain for several days, then my husband bought her a cream at the pharmacy and she stopped complaining but today she told me that she had some very strange spots.

-Could you show me those spots, please?

—My mother looked at me and I couldn't help but shrink, that man had a face that was very scary —

-Come on, he won't hurt you —mum looked at me trying to convey calm—

—The doctor made a small laugh—Don't worry ma'am , it happens to me from time to time. Athena, I don't bite, I'm your doctor and I just want you to feel better —He said trying to calm me down—

-Where is my brave girl? —my mother inquired with a smile—

-I’m here— I relaxed my facial expression and got up from the chair—

-You’re so brave —commented the doctor encouraging me —

—I took off my leather jacket and put it on the chair— These are the white spots.— I pointed to that part with my index finger. —

-Okay, we'll have to do a blood test, you may have Vitiligo. — Said the doctor very convinced —If the tests indicate that you do not have Vitiligo, then you will have fungus. — he sat back in the black chair —

-What is Vitiligo?— My mother asked, impressed.—

-It is a disease that destroys the melanocytes of the skin, leaving a whiter or darker part that varies depending on the person. It is not fatal and there is no cure either.

-Can it be made bigger? -my mother asks and she was getting more and more worried-

-Yes, the spots can expand depending on stress, low self-esteem and many more cases.

-Oh, Will you do the blood test now?

-No, I'll give you an appointment for tomorrow. Can you tell me what time works best for you? —The doctor looked at me and smiled.

- 4 p.m. it’s OK.— My mother responded to the doctor's question —

-Ok, the appointment is already set. See you tomorrow, see you soon.

-Bye! —my mother said raising her voice — Athena say bye to Mrs.Oaks— My mother forced me and I just waved goodbye —

We got home and my mother told my father everything the doctor said, he listened attentively while I helped make dinner with my mother. Suddenly my father said he was going to bring some drinks since there was no Coke left in the fridge.

-Goodbye, don't be late. — My mother said to my father as she said goodbye with a kiss on the cheek —

To be continued…