They say a picture is worth a thousand words so other than the title, there may not be any better caption for this photo. A lot of us think we have to be perfect to achieve our goals, be they personal or career wise, but all we need is to accept ourselves, inside and out. And when we are with the people who love us for who we are, there is freedom.
Ogo Maduewesi who shared this photo on Facebook is the founder of the Vitiligo Support and Awareness Foundation (VITSAF) in Nigeria and this is from their WEBSITE
Vitiligo is a condition in which people lose melanin – the pigment that gives skin its color – resulting in white patches of skin. While the exact cause of vitiligo is unknown, it has been confirmed that an autoimmune component plays a strong rolle in the disease. The chronic nature of the condition, long term treatment, lack of uniform effective therapy and unpredictable cause of the condition has a significant impact upon the quality of life for individuals living with vitiligo.
Vitiligo can begin at any age, but in half of all affected patients, its onset is noted before the age of twenty. In more than half, there is a family history of vitiligo or early greying of hair. In most cases, periods of rapidly extending hypo-pigmentation occur. After several months, the number and size of the light areas become stable and may remain so for several years; other episodes of pigment loss may occur later on, however often following stress or trauma, and the hypopigmentation may spread.
Most patients with vitiligo are in good general health. Although 1 – 2% of the general population has vitiligo, the incidence is 8 – 20% in people with adrenocortical insufficiency, hyperthyroidism, alopecia areata, pernicious anemia, melanoma, scleroderma, morphea, and certain types of uveitis. Three different hypotheses have been advanced to explain the cause of vitiligo: autoimmunity, neurochemical factors, and self-destruction of melanocytes. Research on the cause is continuing.....
Stella from the depths of my heart I want to thank you for this post. U r a real blessing. I had an accident when I was 5. A coal tar burn on my left leg. I grew up being very conscious of myself. Always wore long skirts nd clothes to cover my scar. I am dark, and I'm sure d scar got better with time. My dad refused to let me do a plastic surgery. He said d scar won't stop me from achieving anything in life.Anyway iv gradually been able to accept myself now. I just turned 24 and iv grown more confident. I rock short skirts and nice gowns these days. I have learnt to love and accept my self that way. Truth is, no boyfriend has ever rejected me on account of that scar. I'm not completely confident yet, but with time I'll get better. With time and money I'll do d plastic surgery. But for now I'm living my life..
ReplyDeleteYour scar might even push you to higher heights. Be confident and wherever you go or whatever you do, always say to yourself that you are the best of the lot. Don't let a scar deter you one bit. If you still want a graft then go for it. I had a classmate Geogina Mensa Bonsu who was very conscious of the burn on her arm. She was conscious of it but didn't let it slow her down. She'd wear short sleeves to show off her arm. Her motto was ' I'm if you don't like it, it's your problem not mine.' Georgie Porgy as we used to call her is now a very successful Barrister who lives her life. You will go on to do big thing in life and will remember the. Anon on SDK who said so. Mark my words. Who am I? I am the Pen Lady. Good luck.
DeleteI also have a huge scar on my upper thigh. I am a model, always scared to wear shorts n all. But iv gotten over it, i wear d "bumest of bum shorts".
DeleteTho im still a lil conscious of it, no1 has rejected me also
Iv gotn to accept it
Cant do anytin abt it for now
Nobody iss perfect
Naby..!!!
I like d fact dat ur tryin nt 2 make d scar a barrier'kip being strong gurl!!!
DeleteTanx y'all. 4 Your words of encouragement...GBU
DeleteIt just a shame that u gals r they must insecured mammals on earth. You people r cussing Uche hubby as ugly whereas under it u all have a scar. How do u feel if people keep remind you of this. We should learn to appreciate people 4 there heart and values rather that their physical defects. By the way be strong and keep your head's up.
DeleteHmmm has to be true love!
ReplyDeleteEven her bouquets seem to have been intentionally gotten to match the skin colour.
HML. To them
Happy someone noticed that
DeleteMeanwhile we're back on http://elleven45.blogspot.com
Are u kidding me? Omg! 4 real, beauty is in d eyes of d beholder!Happy married lyf to dem. God pls i nid my own true love,who would c beyond my physical looks,love my imperfections perfectly amen.
ReplyDeleteTrue love.
ReplyDeleteDis one na True luv.
ReplyDeleteYep, when a man loves you, he does so with his whole heart.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, that girl can be healed if she believes. I'm still wondering if there's anything difficult for God.
Please visit www.thebanquethall.blogspot.com
This is a Christian blog for you. God bless you.
Who u b sef? God don suffer 4 una hand..so she will just wake up one morning and bam! The vitiligo I s gone...pls have some sense...it is not a disease but a condition..hian...
DeleteNawa ooh.You go fear love ooh..SHOO
ReplyDeleteD man is nt smiling lik dat ooo, are u sure he is still inlove.
ReplyDeleteFeels lik e is posing for d pic.
Stupid pink shell like u.
DeleteTata (baby)! See as u tk tlk am sef!
DeleteI sure say u spoil mout as u tlk am,
May I free yu, 2day na your lucky day.
If not dat u sed it in a babyish manner.
I wld av sed smthg dat, I wld av to apologize fo lata.
I wee say it agen, d luk on dat man's face isn't dat of an xcited groom waitin to tk is wife home.
If u don't lik my views.Ogbasara mu!
pink shell what an idiotic comment.
ReplyDelete#Smiles! It takes an indiot to no an idiot!
DeleteNo, it doesn't take an idiot 2 know an idiot. U pinkshel, is an idiot in a class of ur own. How can u say d man isn't smiling? Is dat d issue here?
DeleteU ® just so daft! Tufiakwa!
Shut up
DeleteNneka, oyen ala!
DeleteOgini gbu nsowu gi? Hun?
Were nwanyo oooo!
Don't giv up on life, atlist not yet oo.
Ndo!
Nne baby, is funny how u accepted, dat u are trully an idiot in ur statement.
DeleteI understand say english hard. Oya su ENGRI - IGBO, may u no go wound-jure yasef.
NB. Stella plz if my msgs are in multiples kindly hlp me activate oly 1.
Am a very pretty gurl bur ma teeth are kinda brown ,so am always conscious of maself specially wen am lafing, I always try 2 hide dem wif ma lips...ah cn NEVER b confident coz of dat..hv tried and hv ended up embarrassing maself...
ReplyDeleteOk, if you have brown teeth try using baking soda mixed with lemon in a dish and use it everyday on your toothbrush or chewing stick on every tooth you have. Just brush normally, not harshly - you need to take it easy on the gums- in say three weeks max you should see a clear difference. There is a video on teeth whitening on YouTube. Google should be ya friend
DeletePlease my beautiful cousin is married to a dude with veritiligo. My cousin used to be attracted to only handsome dudes. Until she met her hubby and showed her that you can love beyond physical attraction. We were all concerned but she said I have been dating guys and no man had ever loved me like this. People may say how come she married him but I will say keep your opinions to your self and let me share my joy with u....so it could happen
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like having someone that loves you for you. Who knows all your imperfections and still insists on having you in their life! Happy married life to them.
ReplyDeleteVisit koolblend.blogspot.com for true life stories you can't afford to miss.
Stella that picture is animated. This story is actually old and the couples shared their picture. The husband was only trying out features on his gadget, and uploaded. They were even shocked at the comments and response they got from people
ReplyDeleteU ® even more idiotic than pinkshell !
DeleteNneka, nne tk am izy ooo! Am nt a star yet!
DeleteNo de do free PR oooo!
Gboro mi ro, dakun ma je sise!
hyperthyroidism, alopecia areata, pernicious anemia, melanoma, scleroderma, morphea, .. chineke God! all dis one sef na disease? d couple looks gr8 tho true lov still exist
ReplyDeletespeechless... see the cute guy.. no be even say him worwor o! some men are just good. Nigerian men, #indi ala# please take note. Upon all the dolphine toh-toh and bleaching arithmetic wey bongo girls the do nowadays all in a bid to keep u guys, una still the run.Stay one place una nor go fit gree. May good help all the retarded/depressed/mentally unstable/oliver twist men in this world. And continue to bless the good ones like this man. (Amen)
ReplyDeleteLol
DeleteWow! Stella you are so different a blogger. For me I've had a baby who is just few months old and my husband left us out of his terrible promiscuiety. The pregnancy resulted to chronic stretchmarks all over my body, including my hands, legs, thighs, stomach, back etc. It's terrible. I used to be a lover of short things, now I feel very embarrassed to wear short things because of the stretch marks on my legs and thighs. The worse part is my boobs are all sagged. It got worse after my weight loss programme. They look completely sagged and empty. My fellow readers, please I need help on your advice. I wonder how I'm going to be in another relationship again with all these flaws. It's so heartbreaking. Is there a cosmetic solution to these flaws apart from surgery? Thanks for your anticipated advice
ReplyDeleteMy dear,forget your husband! Let him go and be a rolling stone. As they say,there's always someone to love "them". I ve a cousin with stretchmarks everywhere. She is also massive .But her confidence it more than beyonce' on stage! She has broken many hearts! She's a single mum by choice as she left her husband ;who BTW is still on her case to come back years after the fact! She's grooving her life o. What you can't change,accept! Stop this coulda woulda shoula mindset and ve fun! Are men even perfect? Make we nor kill ourselves put joor! *Aiwuyor*!
DeleteBefore you can be in any relationship, you need to
Delete1. Love yourself totally. Thats when someone will see you and see beyond your "flaws". How someone sees you is totally dependent on you.
2. Look good and dress well
3. Be proud of who you are
4. Wear a smile all the time. You are never fully dressed without a smile.
Gosh! Just love yourself my dear and be happy from within. Forget that husband that left you and keep your head up. You're bothering about nothing.
Saggy breast? Get a good bra to pack those babies in place. I recommend the victoria secret bombshell collection. If you cant afford those, pls go giorgio okrika, dem nyafu for there. Choice will be your problem. All the best
@wide eyed u 2 much jor. its lk u r bini cos I fully understand d last word.
DeleteLovely. I only hopes he continues the love and never uses it to chip away at her self esteem. My husband has gradually eroded my self esteem, to think he once loved me so much. Struggling to build myself now.I have come to realize it's not how it's starts, but how it ends...that's why some Indians here despite all still prefer the arranged marriage. You don't love him, but you guys learn to love and respect each other in the end. Love a whole lot in the beginning then use all those imperfections even those things told to you as a partner in confidence to mock and chip away at the lady's self esteem.
ReplyDeleteVery true. It can be terrible when someone you love and trust, betrays that trust. Using faults and mistakes told in confidence to erode our self esteem and make themselves feel superior. Ladies don't let a man take your self esteem away gradually until there is nothing left. Try to be strong and don't let his words and actions get to you. You are stronger than you think!
DeleteVisit koolblend.blogspot.com for true life stories you can't afford to miss.
Loving eyes can never see...I love love meeeen! Hmmmmmmmmmm *Dreaming*
ReplyDeleteVery touching, true love *crying*
ReplyDeleteI am a preaty lady,I have a flawless skin,a very lovely and sexy body,infact a body 2 kill for,my breast is so lovely,my waist line is my best asset,my legs...my legs gave me d honour of geting an award for miss hotlegs in school. My height is perfect for a lady. Yet I hav. Very very low self esteem,I hardly go out. Just becos I dnt want 2 meet pple ,I dnt smile nor laugh in public all because of my bad teeth. Am a very nice person,pple say dat 2 my face and behind me,yet I ve a dozen of heartbreak, so I feel its all because of my bad teeth, once am wit frnds and u say T-E-E-TH I ll run as fast as my legs can carry me, infact I hate d word teeth,I despise d word smile.years back I went for a modelin audition,and d manager called me out in front of evrybody and asked me 2 smile,I felt as if d ground shud swallow me,he said he noticed my figure wen I came in2 d hall, dat evrybody is laughin and smilin but am not.I felt so bad. Pple dat hav a gud smile dnt kw wat God has done for them,I went 2 see a dentist recently,he said d problem is not the teeth but my gum.dat I ll need Le fort I osteotomy(surgery) to correct my deformed upper gum and tru dat process my teeth ll be well arranged and dat I ll definately have a smile,is quite Expensive and am ready 2 do it for me but am just scared,as in very scared,and am also worrid bcos my guy is nt suportive,(I dnt mean money cos I can foot d bill)he said is a waste of money,anytim I bring up d issue he waves it aside.pls pardon any grammatical errors ooh,can't wait 2 have a smile
ReplyDeleteGet ur smile girl. You don't need anyone's opinion. If it makes you happy, go for it. Your boyfriend is obviously scared of u getting that smile.
DeletePlease go for that smile as long as u can foot the bill.Don't listen to what pple say.your smile is what you need to complete you.
DeleteAm glad u can foot the bill and not asking him for the money.. pls fly not run to the dentist and get it done. He's just insecure bcos he feels u'll get somone better Dan him if you get a better smile. Please don't let any man u are not yet married to dissuade you from getting your heart desire. Please my dear be strong and do it Please.
DeleteThank u Stella for this post, I used to have vitiligo. Yes! Mine disappeared!! Unbelievable!!! I noticed I had grey hair when I was growing up. At a time (my22years of age) my eye brow started greying also. All of a sudden, I had white patches on the right side of my face and on my eye lid.
ReplyDeleteMy mum took me to one dermatologist at St Micheals road in Aba. He gave me about six rounds of injections, two for each day. He gave me some drugs which I was to take, all I can remember was that there was multivites and blood capsules in it. He advise me to stop applying any cream on my face. And to stop using medicated soap or skin lightening soap to bath.
Few months later, I became darker. I started noticing black spots on that my white patch vitligo face. Before long the black spots took over those white patches.
Thank God am ok now, u can't even know I once had an attack of vitiligo before unless I tell u. When one notice such symptoms, don't self medicate, or listen to what advisers will tell u. Visit a qualified dermatologist and follow all the instruction given to u.
Vitiligo is a real esteem killer, I nearly burnt my face out of anger. Thank God for my family and also for God's mercy in my life. I pray it doesn't come back again In Jesus name Amen.
Dat Igbo girl......Chinna...
Thanks for sharing this. I have a little girl of 6 who has it. We have been to the dermatologist but no effect. Please I will like to get more information on this particular dermatologist that treated you. Thanks.
DeleteI would say get a couple of opinions from dentists and go for it. Overlook what you guy says, having that low self esteem is keeping you with him and he likes it that way. Even if he is your husband, go for it. Raise your self esteem, you only live once. Speaking from experience.
ReplyDeleteI hav seen 3 dentist,and my mind is made up, am doin d surgery Feb. 2014,and thnks
DeleteI hav seen 3 dentist,and my mind is made up, am doin d surgery Feb. 2014,and thnks
DeleteI hav seen 3 dentist,and my mind is made up, am doin d surgery Feb. 2014,and thnks
DeleteThis piece got me. Hi Stella, I got married five months ago and I've got vitiligo right on the left side of mi face spreading through to my ear. This never let me down cos I learnt to be very confident n it even gave me Loadsa attention, I was happy to tell ppl about it and I didn't feel less, in fact I felt better. Although I conceal it so well with makeup you'd never know ive got it (that's when I've got a then then party) but if not I disgrace my folks (lol) walking around with the face bare. Just emphasizing the fact that stuff like this don't matter in your daily life, those who'd love u still will.
ReplyDeleteGhen Ghen*
ReplyDeleteMy best friend has vitiligo. Very fat and very visible. But guess what. He has the sweetest personality, he can dance and he is a very very successful lawyer. Too sweet! I just wish he'd settle down. He's very picky with women and girls love him. How people see you lies in your hand and how you carry yourself matters the most. Know who and what you are.
ReplyDeleteDo it for yourself and not for your boyfriend. I used to have bad crooked teeth too and I wouldn't smile or laugh for all the oil in saudi. Then I went to see a dentist and we agreed on a treatment plan. I got invisalign, also pulled out a bad tooth and and got a dental implant. The process took about 18 months but now tell me to smile and you will have to beg me to stop. Go for it girl.
ReplyDeleteWow, u just gave me hope now,dat my dentation is definately gonna be fine,and I ll smile soon,thanks a million
DeleteThe story is not fake, it is for real and not an animation. Google Nicole and Brandon Wylie.
ReplyDeleteMany men don't smile.ode
ReplyDeleteBaking soda and lemon everyday? hian! take it easy before you wash your enamel away.
ReplyDeletewow
ReplyDeletepink shell you have time. Learn to spell properly and your posts will make sense.
ReplyDelete@ anon October 8, 2013 at 5:21 PM lies. This story is so true.
Am so bored, I snore as I type dis.
DeleteMy dear do u av a tutorial lesson wia u cn teach me how to. #Smiles
BTW grow some balls or labia majora n put a noun to dis anony.
Get a life PINKY and go and suck on a carrot.
ReplyDeleteit virtue that makes the difference. and a beautiful heart. Not these pretty face manner less girls.
ReplyDeleteDentition or no dentition i beg smile! person wey no like you make e jump for lagoon. What if you did not have money for the surgery will you live your life in misery.?
ReplyDeleteTrue love no doubt
ReplyDeleteTruly!Truly!! Unconditional love,How many men in this Naija can walk this path???God has already blessed their union n so shall be...IJMN Amen
ReplyDeleteFOR REAL? what injection did he give you? please try and find out the name. Many are desperate for a cure
ReplyDelete