As a mother, I have always done everything that I can to keep my children safe, healthy, and happy. Parenting has its blessings and challenges, but the worst part is seeing your child suffer.
When Sofia was a little girl, I loved combing her long beautiful hair and massaging her scalp with coconut oil. It was part of our weekly mother-daughter routine.
It wasn't until Sofia was 12 years old, that I noticed she was having dandruff on her scalp. I thought it was just normal dandruff, so I shampooed her hair more often, hoping it would go away. But instead of getting better, it got worse.
I began to worry about her, and my husband and I decided to take Sofia to visit a doctor. After consulting a few medical officers and specialists, Sofia was diagnosed with psoriasis. Back then, we knew nothing about psoriasis. We didn't know how severe it could get, until it began to spread to other parts of Sofia's body, including her elbows, arms, and legs.
It was devastating to see this happening to my daughter. How could this happen? It wasn't fair for such a young girl to be faced with this situation.
As Sofia's condition worsened, I began to notice changes in her behaviour. She became more reserved, often isolating herself from everyone. She wasn’t always like that, she used to enjoy participating in social events and activities.
The condition of psoriasis also had a tremendous impact on Sofia's body. She stopped doing all sports because her joints hurt. Even for light daily tasks, she tended to get tired easily. My husband and I knew Sofia was going through a lot, so we never put any pressure on her to perform in school. We simply told her to do her best. She chose to work hard all by herself and managed to do well.
When Sofia was 20 years old, she developed psoriatic arthritis. She was often in the hospital, and I had to accompany her. In 2014, she was bedridden for almost a year. It was one of the most difficult and heart-breaking moments in our lives. I had to take care of her, bathe her and feed her, just as I had done when she was a little girl.
I wanted to be strong in front of her and to encourage her. But deep down, I often felt lost and helpless. I did not want Sofia to see my sadness, so I only cried when I was alone. Every night I prayed that Sofia would get healthier. I wished that I could take on her pain in exchange that she would be healed.
Because of psoriatic arthritis, Sofia can no longer turn her neck properly. It has also affected her hands, right arm, and chest. Some days she feels better, and other days not so much.
The last three decades have been a roller coaster ride for my daughter. I am amazed at how brave she is when it comes to advocating for psoriasis awareness. She never gives up and is resilient when it comes to managing her condition. She visits her doctor and receives her medication regularly.
Although Sofia is now 41 years old, she is still the beautiful little girl whose hair I used to comb.
Letchmy
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