Because Ichthyosis mommies are tough too.

I want to start off by stating that this isn't only directed towards my own mom but all moms of Ichthyosis affected children..I'm sure sometimes you think things you do for us go unnoticed or even that it's just part of your "momly duties" but you'll probably never know how much we truly do appreciate the things you do. Even if we complain.

Dear "mom",
Thank you for taking such good care of me. Thank you for being so strong and keeping it together when I know it was harder to handle than I'll ever be able to imagine, for never getting too tired to care for me. I know you have a whole other list of responsibilities vs. other moms.  Thank you for keeping me bandaged, putting lotion on me and helping me bathe when I needed you to.

Thank you for making me live a "normal" life, for making me go to school even when I was faking my skin hurting.... You could always tell when I MAY have been exaggerating a little. Thank you for making me take care of my skin properly even when we both knew it hurt so bad. You also knew it'd feel better in the long run. Thank you for not treating me like a science experiment. I know most doctors just wanted to help but in the end I was still your baby and not a lab rat.

Thank you for not ignoring my skin disorder. For teaching me to always laugh when the choices are to either laugh or cry. For teaching me  to stick up for myself, that I deserve nothing but the absolute best in life. Thank you for always standing beside me. I could always see how proud you were and how much you loved me by your smile. When people talked and stared, you were the first to take up for me and when I got older you taught me to take up for myselft. You'll never know how much that has helped me in life.

There are so many things I'm thankful for that I'll probably never get around to telling you but a few lessons that I learned from you, that I'll teach my own kids are--
>Have faith. God doesn't make mistakes, God knows us before we're even born. HE sent me to you and you to me. We're a great team
>Prove people wrong. Your stubborn way of living life has impacted my life in so many ways. Thank God it has. I have no idea where I'd be if I wasn't so stubborn.

 Dear mom,
I'll never in one lifetime be able to express how grateful I am that God sent me to you. Did I make life easy on you? Not by a long shot. But you're my best friend, my hero. People talk about how tough Ichthyosis kids are, they forget that we were raised by tough mommas/daddies.
Thank you for being my momma.

Love, your ichthyosis baby.