"I'm just a little person from Oklahoma City"

I woke up from an unexpected nap and found myself half watching a show called the Doctors. My attention was grabbed by this young African American woman who was detailing a condition which no one seemed to be able to identify. She had these unsightly bumps (nodules) all over her body that itched intensely and didn't go away. When the nodule hardened enough she would take a razer to remove it.

They were all over her arms and her legs, in her scalp, the bottom of her feet, and I imagine all the hidden places too. You can imagine the social stigma of people thinking she could be contagious and not wanting to be near her. So even in hot Oklahoma City she covered her body up as much as she could. She'd been suffering with this for 7 years.

She had gone to doctor after doctor who in the end told her that she was doing this to herself ... you know a mental problem.

The show had a physician who reviewed her history and examined her and did a blood workup and biopsied the nodules. This girl had two rare conditions (both caused itching): hypothyroidism and urticarial vasculitis. It would take 6 months to a year of in process treatment to address the urticarial vasculitis which was being donated to her. Plus she was being set up with an Endocrinologist covered by her insurance for treatment.

The poor thing was overwhelmed with joy and couldn't believe someone would do this for her ... "I'm just a little person from Oklahoma City," she sobbed as she thanked them for the hope of getting her life back. I just totally lost it when she said that and sobbed along with her.

I wanted to hug her and tell her that she deserves to be helped. I believe that everyone has a right to be helped and not have skin disorders excluded from insurance coverage.