Brooke Atkins, a 33-year-old stay-at-home mother from Gold Coast, Australia, was criticized by online trolls for opting to laser off her newborn’s facial birthmark.
However, Brooke maintains that the decision was made to benefit her child.
The birthmark, a sizable ‘port wine’ mark covering half of the baby boy’s face, was noticed by Brooke and her 27-year-old partner Kewene Wallace soon after his birth six months ago.
A mother from Australia has shared that she was labeled a ‘monster’ by online bullies after deciding to use a laser to remove her baby’s facial birthmark. Despite the negative backlash, the mother insists that she made the decision to benefit her child.
Brooke Atkins, a 33-year-old stay-at-home mother from Gold Coast, gave birth to her second child, a baby boy named Kingsley, six months ago. However, upon his arrival, Brooke and her partner Kewene Wallace, 27, noticed that half of his face was covered by a sizable ‘port wine’ mark. A picture of Kingsley after his laser treatment is available.
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While typically benign, port-wine stain birthmarks can be associated with glaucoma and Sturge Weber Syndrome when located on the face, particularly over the eye.
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Glaucoma can cause blindness, while Sturge Weber Syndrome can cause seizures and other disabilities.
Kingsley was diagnosed with both conditions.
Brooke, who is also a mother to two-year-old Amarni, explained that port-wine stains are progressive and tend to darken over time.
‘They can develop a “cobblestone” appearance, with raised bumps, ridges and the risk of vascular blebs, where they dangerously bleed.
‘Once a port wine stain gets to this stage, it is often very difficult to treat and laser barely has any affect, as the skin is already far too damaged.’
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What do you think about the mother’s decision?