  Mrsjdaniels Member Username: Mrsjdaniels Post Number: 314 Registered: 08-2005 |
Lee Thomas: 'Would Other People See a Monster?' Reporter Shares His Struggle With Disease That's Turning His Skin White By JESSICA HORNIG Jan. 3, 2007— For more than a decade now, Detroit television audiences have taken to entertainment reporter Lee Thomas, and so have all his colleagues. Dana Hahn, one of Thomas' bosses, said, "He's just a charismatic, outgoing person and our viewers over time have just come to adore him." But hearty as the newsroom camaraderie was, Thomas kept a distance, and a secret. For a time, he was so private he wouldn't let himself be seen on the Detroit streets on the days when he wasn't working. He was trying to hide the fact that, under his television makeup, his face was uncontrollably changing. "I stayed in the house because I don't want people to see what I looked like," Thomas said. The mysterious white blotches that had spread to his face began years before with small pale spots on his scalp and one hand. And he'd been living in fear of how far and how fast they might spread since getting a diagnosis from an expert dermatologist in 1994. Thomas was told he had a disease called vitiligo, something an estimated 4 million Americans have. The disease has no cure and it causes the skin to lose its pigmentation, turning it white. Watch the story Friday on "20/20" at 10 p.m. ET Mysterious Transformation Thomas said he was shocked when he received the diagnosis from his doctor. "I'm sure he kept talking because I saw his mouth moving, but & I didn't hear anything he said, and I actually had to go, 'Stop for a second, doc, did you just say there's no cure?'" Thomas remembers having to look at his face as it changed before his eyes. "I don't know if you can imagine looking in the mirror and not seeing you," he said. "I wondered, did other people, would other people see a monster when they saw me?" That mysterious transformation from black to white was made famous in the very publicly changing face of Michael Jackson. Many people have said that Jackson does not really suffer from the disease, but Thomas thinks otherwise. "One glove he used to wear," he said. "I used to wear one glove to cover it. So I mean, I understand all of his struggles." Thomas decided to keep his secret from everyone he worked with, telling only close friends and family. For four long years, he held his secret in, until he couldn't cover it up any longer. Vitiligo is not fatal, but Lee thought it would mean the death of his television career. Being on television was a dream Thomas had had since childhood. He achieved his dream and said he could feel it all slipping away as his own skin betrayed him. "I was thinking of what else I could do," he said. "And it was tough because I had worked so hard to achieve this." Showing His Skin As Thomas' hands began to turn completely white, he had to tell his bosses and co-workers about the vitiligo, but he did not reveal the whole story. Co-worker Fanchon Stinger recalled, "I know I didn't realize how severe it was." But once the disease took over 35 percent of his body, Thomas had to tell management everything. After years of heartache and worry, he found his managers had a surprising reaction. They didn't want to fire him. They wanted him to tell his story on the air. "I didn't want to, because I thought it was a ratings thing, you know, 'Look at the black guy turning white at 10,'" Thomas said. "But kids and adults who saw my hands knew I had vitiligo early on and they would call and I was talking on the phone to a teenager, and he said, 'Would you tell your story on television?' And I go, 'Why?' He goes, 'Well, maybe people will treat me differently.' And I never thought of it that way, because I was so caught up in my own struggle. I never thought of other people. When he put it that way, it was an easy answer." In November 2005, Thomas decided to share all the facts and fears with his viewers. He removed his makeup on the air, showing what his skin really looked like underneath. The reaction from viewers was overwhelming and incredible. Letters and e-mails voicing support for Thomas poured into the newsroom, and Thomas said he was more shocked than anyone else by the response. "I've gotten letters from all over the world from people struggling with this disease, and I've done something good if I can help them," he said. Thomas did say that "there have been some reactions that weren't positive. I'll tell you one of them & it was, 'Lucky for you God's turning you white. Because, you know, the other people' -- words I don't use -- 'shouldn't be here.'" 'I Still Have My Life' Thomas said he's now determined to spread understanding about the realities of vitiligo. He still wears makeup when he's on the air, explaining that "I know for a fact that when I'm not wearing makeup, it is distracting for people, because it's something they haven't seen. And when I'm not wearing makeup, people don't hear me." Thomas said it takes about 20 minutes to apply the makeup before going on-camera, but in his day-to-day life, he is now free to show his true self, and the face he's covering up on camera doesn't scare him anymore. "I had to clearly define me past what I saw in the mirror. And I realized that I was the man I always wanted to be." Thomas also said the disease "forced me to clearly define myself as an African-American." Thomas now is also an author. He said his book, "Turning White," is meant to help anyone struggling with anything that threatens their self-respect or the pursuit of their dreams, and he offers himself as an example. A man once afraid to talk about his disease has now exposed its every detail. A man once afraid to date now has a girlfriend. "When I project what's inside of me, I think people see that easily," he said. "I realized that you're not alone, and there are things that you can be thankful for no matter what. I'm not going to die from this. ... I still have my life. I still have my job & everything else is gravy." Copyright © 2008 ABC News Internet Ventures | ||
Sstashmoo Member Username: Sstashmoo Post Number: 839 Registered: 02-2007 |
Thats a great story. | ||
Detroit_stylin Member Username: Detroit_stylin Post Number: 5388 Registered: 10-2003 |
Yeah that was an inspirational story for real. But I had to laugh at this gem here: quote: | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4383 Registered: 10-2003 |
I've watched a couple of his TV specials. Strong guy, seems really nice. My dad actually has the same disease on his hands and back, but being white, you can barely tell unless he gets a dark tan. Its definitely is a LOT more dramatic on dark skin. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4384 Registered: 10-2003 |
 Here's an example of someone with light skin that has Vitiligo. You can see this probably won't scare children away. Now look at the difference.  Not so easy to hide. | ||
Hpgrmln Member Username: Hpgrmln Post Number: 330 Registered: 06-2007 |
"My dad actually has the same disease on his hands and back, but being white, you can barely tell unless he gets a dark tan. Its definitely is a LOT more dramatic on dark skin." I have a minor case. Right now its not noticeable. When it first started forming, everyone noticed it.Thankfully, mine stopped forming before getting advanced, but you can still make out the small spot on my face come summertime. A dermatologist also told me that its possible for it to form on your scalp, killing the pigments that make up your skin color, causing small premature grey spots. Which could explain why I've had little blotches of grey hair since my late-teens. I'm certaintly glad someone is trying to educate the public about it. It's kind of relieving to have a public voice, regardless of differences in severity or skin complexion. | ||
Jonnyfive Member Username: Jonnyfive Post Number: 94 Registered: 03-2007 |
I've had it since I was five. I'm white, but dark-skinned and I get very dark in the summers. Tried to cure it a long time ago and gave up, but never tried to hide it. I suppose it's very different when you've grown up with it as opposed to having it appear in your adult life. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 1338 Registered: 11-2003 |
He used to come into Home Depot on 7 Mile when I worked there and he would be in a leather coat, gloves,and shades in the SUMMER time. I felt bad for him. You could see all the make up caked on his faces dripping because of the heat. People used to be scared of him, but I recognized him in from the news. He is a nice guy to from our brief interactions. | ||
Warriorfan Member Username: Warriorfan Post Number: 870 Registered: 08-2005 |
This USA Today article has a picture of Lee (without makeup) where you can clearly see the extent of the vitiligo. http://www.usatoday.com/life/t elevision/2007-12-16-vitiligo_ N.htm |
