African American dtr just dx with vitiligo

Posted by Tracy P-J on May 1, 2011 at 1:16pm

Hello!

 

So glad to have found this group.  I'm a Caucasian mother of an adopted African American daughter who was just dx with vitiligo.  We've done our best to give her a strong sense of pride in herself, loving her beautiful mind, body, and spirit.  I'm very concerned how we can now give her the tools she needs.  One of my primary concern relates to helping her work with her sense of self--"am I black or white?" "why don't I look like my parents OR life my African American friends?"  What do we do as parents?

I'm not sure if this makes sense.  Any advise is much appreciated.   

 

 

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Replies

  • Neci October 5, 2012 at 11:28am

    You are doing a great job. Continue to encourage her

  • Ayasha May 1, 2011 at 2:32pm
    It makes sense. IMO both you and your husband need to interact intimately with people who are African American, if you don't already, even without her having vitiligo. She needs that acceptance as well as your love. Her culture is important and I suggest you (husband and yourself) explore different groups, schools, organizations etc thatcan help with that. I don't know where you reside but check to see if they have a group for peple, kids, with vitiligo or at least anotherblack child with it like her. I am in the Tampa Bay area if you are close and willing to help. I don't even know you but it seems to me like you are a great mom!
    • Tracy P-J > Ayasha May 1, 2011 at 2:47pm
      Thanks so much for your replies.  We do have some strong connections with African Americans.  She is 5 and in preschool. Her primary teachers are African American, and more than half her class is as well. This is all so new to us, (dx was Friday!) so it hadn't crossed my mind to ask some of her teachers, etc if they have any experience. When I first noticed her spots on her knees, one of her teachers told me 'that's really common in African Americans, especially those with darker skin color." Not to worry. The teacher said that the spots are often on knees, hands, elbows (also said "it's not a disease or anything..." so I wonder how common this really is, and how many people have it, don't know it, never seek treatment, etc.  We also are connected to adoptive parent groups in our region that have welcomed children home from the same region as our dtr.

      Thanks again!
  • Denise Blanks May 1, 2011 at 2:27pm
    Wow! Tracy & welcome! I really feel for the young with Vit! I'm not sure how old she is but, I would as a mom research this and get her connected in your community with any support groups! You may have to start your own! I am also a part of a closed support group on facebook and the people on there give a lot of information about what they have learned and researched themselves, there's even a lady on there whose daughter was born with Vit on her face! it's exciting to see her daughter grow and be involved in dance and activities despite having Vit. I hope you are friends with African Americans in your community/church/school where your daughter will have a strong base of support & love regardless of what she will face out in society! This will be her foundation! I am 55 and have been dealing with this for close to 10 years now, I am a nurse & now teach at a local community college, vit is very noticiable on my hands, legs & arms, a little on my lips and I sometimes forget I have it until I see someone stare. I begin my class with my name and tell them what I have and it's not contagious and that's usually all I say for the rest of the classes. I hope this helps a little:)
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