Tom's Story (The Struggle with Vitiligo)
A while back, I came across the term "Vitiligo" and I was immediately interested in knowing everything I could about it. Vitiligo is described as "a long-term skin condition characterized by patches of the skin losing their pigment."
After some research, I noticed that a whole lot of people living with Vitiligo are subjected to immense stigma, so I went out to seek to know them, know what they go through and tell their stories. I met a couple of these incredible souls, we managed to do a photo-shoot and they are an inspiration.
This is the story of Tom and his walk with Vitiligo.
I have lived with Vitiligo for 10 years now. It started out as a small brown lump on my left cheek which I thought could have been an allergic reaction. I rushed to a nearby dispensary to get an anti-allergic cream which on applying on it the situation got worse; A large white patch began to form and spread throughout the left side of my face and as the condition worsened I drowned into depression within the first six months before seeking proper medical help. My parents were confused on what I was ailing from and had also become stressed about it.
I would get weird stares and people were scared of me. Greeting and socializing with friends became difficult as most of them would try to avoid you. Sometimes you wouldn't be invited to tag along by friends because they felt embarrassed having you along. At some point some of my close relatives would be embarrassed of me being around them and they would even subject me to condescending treatment.
I visited several hospitals for treatment where I eventually came across a dermatologist at Aga Khan hospital-Nairobi who explained to me what I was suffering from and prescribed to me some creams and tablets for treatment.
My parents even opted I remain home till I get well before being at campus not knowing this was a condition I would live with for the rest of my life.
Being at campus in 2009 became difficult as I tried to cope with stares. It is at campus where I started accepting myself and began an awareness drive dubbed Vitifans where I talked to students about it. I left campus and later changed the name to Royal patches which I use now to create awareness in so many different ways. Because of limited resources the awareness drive is yet to reach majority of Kenyans. Because many are yet to know and understand the condition I still faced discrimination, at some point with a few members of the Royal patches group we had been told by a priest to have a letter from the Public Health ministry to be able interact with a church congregation for the fear that we could infect them with vitiligo, getting jobs is difficult and dating isn't as easy.
Despite all these difficulties I have been able to live a normal life and cop now because I have learned to accept myself.
Story: Tom (https://www.facebook.com/tom.fredradz)
Shoot Assistant: Brian Marui
Photography: Mwaluma Joseph
After some research, I noticed that a whole lot of people living with Vitiligo are subjected to immense stigma, so I went out to seek to know them, know what they go through and tell their stories. I met a couple of these incredible souls, we managed to do a photo-shoot and they are an inspiration.
This is the story of Tom and his walk with Vitiligo.
I have lived with Vitiligo for 10 years now. It started out as a small brown lump on my left cheek which I thought could have been an allergic reaction. I rushed to a nearby dispensary to get an anti-allergic cream which on applying on it the situation got worse; A large white patch began to form and spread throughout the left side of my face and as the condition worsened I drowned into depression within the first six months before seeking proper medical help. My parents were confused on what I was ailing from and had also become stressed about it.
I would get weird stares and people were scared of me. Greeting and socializing with friends became difficult as most of them would try to avoid you. Sometimes you wouldn't be invited to tag along by friends because they felt embarrassed having you along. At some point some of my close relatives would be embarrassed of me being around them and they would even subject me to condescending treatment.
I visited several hospitals for treatment where I eventually came across a dermatologist at Aga Khan hospital-Nairobi who explained to me what I was suffering from and prescribed to me some creams and tablets for treatment.
My parents even opted I remain home till I get well before being at campus not knowing this was a condition I would live with for the rest of my life.
Being at campus in 2009 became difficult as I tried to cope with stares. It is at campus where I started accepting myself and began an awareness drive dubbed Vitifans where I talked to students about it. I left campus and later changed the name to Royal patches which I use now to create awareness in so many different ways. Because of limited resources the awareness drive is yet to reach majority of Kenyans. Because many are yet to know and understand the condition I still faced discrimination, at some point with a few members of the Royal patches group we had been told by a priest to have a letter from the Public Health ministry to be able interact with a church congregation for the fear that we could infect them with vitiligo, getting jobs is difficult and dating isn't as easy.
Despite all these difficulties I have been able to live a normal life and cop now because I have learned to accept myself.
Story: Tom (https://www.facebook.com/tom.fredradz)
Shoot Assistant: Brian Marui
Photography: Mwaluma Joseph
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