Eczema Caregivers: How to Find Support & Advocacy

When I submitted my application to Miami Mom Collective as a writer I knew that my posts

were going to be focused mainly on eczema and allergies. 

This decision came mainly because we have been dealing with this chronic condition for more than 5 years now. Secondly, because there are so many parents dealing with the same thing who feel alone, as I felt once.

Finding the Support 

I remember when my daughter started to develop all the rashes and symptoms of eczema and allergies. I used to spend sleepless nights looking for information on the internet and also holding her hands to prevent her from scratching. 

Even though I had close friends who supported me, listened to me, and hugged me during those endless days of crying, they could not fully understand what I was going through. They did not have a kid like mine.

I am thankful for all they tried to do. But I still felt lonely thinking that I was the only one dealing with this.

One day, I found out about a hospital where they have an extensive care unit for eczema. Then I looked for reviews and other parents’ experiences about this treatment on the Facebook group for eczema. I found this nice lady that went through the same things with her son as we were going through with our daughter. She had gone to that same hospital.

Advocate for Eczema Sufferers 

Since that day back in 2015, we started an online friendship. She was really kind, she guided me, and also gave me the support that I was looking for.

After I met her virtually, I started to get more involved in different eczema groups. And that is how I found GPER (Global Parents for Eczema Research). The first thing I did was subscribe. Then I contacted the admin of the group, Korey (who was also a Mom of a kid with severe eczema), and offered her my help and support on any of their projects.

I started to be in contact with Korey through Facebook, and we finally met last year at the National Eczema Expo. We talked for a while and I told her that she could count me in for any upcoming research/projects. And this is where my journey with GPER started. 

Support for Eczema Caregivers 

This year she started a new adventure on her GPER journey, the Support for Eczema Caregivers (SEC) program. She asked me if I would like to be part of the pilot group, and of course, I said yes! 

This program is designed to help eczema caregivers get support from someone who understands the eczema journey: a fellow caregiver. Participants are matched with other parents/caregivers who will provide listening support on a weekly basis for 3 months, and help them find the resources they need. 

The SEC program is FREE and available to any caregiver touched by moderate to severe childhood eczema living anywhere in the world!

I just got assigned a new parent to help on this journey, I will be her mentor for 3 months. I’m hopeful about helping a family feel like they are not alone in this.

If you know someone going through a similar situation, please share this information with them.

We are here to support and help!