WELCOME

Dear Vitiligo Family & Friends:

I want to welcome you to the Maryland Vitiligo Support Association (MVSA) blog page.  This blog page is intended to serve as an information and communication resource tool for people living with Vitiligo, their family and friends.  In as much as we share this common condition, this blog and the future of this new association is dedicated to helping ourselves and others lead productive and healthy lives.

Where ever I go and when opportunity avails, I introduce myself to other people who have Vitiligo.  It's nothing for me to say, "Hello...I see you have vitiligo.  I have it too." After what is usually a very pleasant introduction, we usually talk briefly about how long we've had it, efforts at treatment, or just shoot the breeze.  After having done this for years, I've come to realize that its therapeutic for me.  It's my way of realizing that I'm not alone and there's someone who understands.  And with so many differences among us, I also get a chance to learn. And from these brief engagements, I've also learned that so many of us are suffering emotionally from the shrapnel of this condition; the stares, the rejection; the misinformation; the discrimination; and isolation.

Once while working as a bartender, I was approached by a very nice couple, who mentioned they noticed my hands earlier and wondered if I could help them with something.  I agreed.  Upon further talking with them, I learned they had a young daughter on whom they had noticed the progressive spread of vitiligo.  The girl was in elementary school and was having a difficult time coping. After telling me their daughter's story, they simply asked, "What can we do to help her?" 

So, inspired by the love of my mother, to those parents and the many persons I've introduced myself to over the years, including the two I met this week, and to our friends and family, this blog and the forthcoming organization is for you.  You are invited to join and contribute to this blog and organization.

You are not alone.

Sincerely,
Carlos N. Fields