Diving in

For my 16th birthday, my family surprised me with a trip to Mexico. As I saw the ocean, in its vast nature, I felt safe. I did not wear my wig and I bought my first pair of shorts. I ran into the ocean and took a deep breath. I FELT ALIVE and new and cleansed. I prayed to God that night thanking him for that experience.

When we returned, I went to school without a wig for the first time in five years. I loved who I was and I felt BEAUTIFUL.

I stopped filling in my eyebrows and I cried tears of joy every time I saw myself in the mirror. My pixie cut made me feel like a princess. Within two months, my hair was down to my shoulders, my eyebrows grew again, my legs started growing hair again, and my spots were filling in.

My vitiligo had receded down to about 15 percent of my body. I started going to church regularly and started buying dresses. I went out regularly with friends and went swimming. I no longer had OCD and I had less anxiety about going to school.

But now I understand why this happened to me. It was a detour on life’s road that is leading me to my final destination. I am going to be a pediatric dermatologist to help children who are facing similar conditions as I have in the past and a be a source of support and reason for them. I want to research and treat these diseases. I want to help and I will cure these conditions.

Today, I am 18 years old with a patch on my right leg and scars on my left. I have a full head of hair, three years in the making.

I am restored and whole.

I am swimming laps.

I share my story because there are people that I sit next to in my classes who are facing issues that we may not understand. People in our midst are struggling with problems that others may not struggle with. Respect everyone and compliment others, it would mean the world to them. Every single person is beautiful and they are not alone.