Matilde – A Story That Inspires Hope

For more than twenty years, my work as a physician has focused on the observation and study of a therapy for the treatment of Vitiligo.

For more than twenty years, I have lived in close contact with those affected by this condition, rejoicing with my patients during the best moments and standing by them during the most difficult ones.

For more than twenty years, every victory over the disease has also been a victory for the entire Cura della Vitiligine team.

For this reason, together with our patients, we decided to share some stories publicly — experiences that may help many people regain hope.

We decided to do so by allowing the patients themselves to tell their own story, or that of a close family member, here on our blog.

The first testimony comes from Matilde’s mother.

It was on 05/31/2018 when I discovered a white spot on Matilde’s eyelid. She was coming down the school stairs, and I thought she had chalk dust on her. As soon as she came closer, that clearly outlined spot — despite my background being completely unrelated to medicine and despite never having had any previous experience with vitiligo — immediately made me think of this disease.

Matilde was 8 years old. She is a cheerful, intelligent little girl, with an open and contagious smile, and a promising gymnast. In an instant, although fully aware that it was not a life-threatening disease, I imagined her future life weighed down by insecurities and fragility.

I remember that day very clearly, and the deep anguish I felt. The difficulty in booking an urgent dermatological appointment, the internet searches, the night spent reading as much as possible about this disease, the feeling of “abandonment” I experienced when, in various Facebook groups, I read that the only possible path was acceptance…

I still did not have a certain diagnosis, but at some point my research led me to discover this “famous” Dr. Menchini, whose patients claimed to have recovered from vitiligo.

It did not matter that he was far away. We would have gone to the ends of the earth to offer our daughter the chance to be treated.

The following day, guided by instinct, even without a confirmed diagnosis, I booked an appointment at Dermacademy.

Meanwhile, here in Turin, a doctor confirmed the vitiligo diagnosis, adding — and I quote verbatim — “better vitiligo than psoriasis, and besides, the child has fair skin anyway…”. According to him, it was not worth treating, since it was “just” an aesthetic issue.

On July 18, 2018, during our first visit in Pisa, Menchini spoke to us about recovery. It was no longer about passively enduring the situation, but about taking action.

Of course, it would require consistency and patience — and we never lacked either. Nor determination!

In these two and a half years of therapy, Matilde never skipped a supplement or a lamp session. We followed every instruction meticulously, placing our complete trust in the process.

In January, exactly one year after the last visit, Matilde was declared healed. Unfortunately, Covid kept us “apart,” but if it had been possible at that moment, I would have hugged Menchini and every one of his wonderful collaborators one by one. In their eyes, you could see the same joy we felt for the result achieved.

Over the years, you wonderful doctors made us feel welcomed, understood, and supported. You dispelled our doubts and made us feel reassured and cared for even when answering the questions we sent by email as anxious parents.

We will forever be grateful and thankful for what you did for Matilde and for us…