An Australian mother who was called a “monster” for lasering her baby’s large facial birthmark has shared what her son looks like now.
A mom was slammed for lasering her son’s birthmark. Credit: Isabel Pavia / Getty
Brooke Atkins, 36, from the Gold Coast, Queensland, welcomed her second child, Kingsley, in 2022.
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He was born with a large port-wine stain (PWS) covering the right side of his face – a smooth, flat, pink, red or purple patch on a newborn that is caused by malfunctioning blood vessels in the skin.
While often harmless, PWS on the face, especially around the eyes and forehead, can be linked to serious medical conditions.
In Kingsley’s case, doctors diagnosed both glaucoma, which can lead to blindness, and Sturge Weber Syndrome, a rare neurological condition “characterized by abnormal development of the small blood vessels (called capillaries) in the brain, eyes, and skin,” per National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
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The little boy has already undergone three eye surgeries and has suffered more than 100 seizures in his short life.
Port-wine stains also tend to darken and thicken over time, developing a “cobblestone” texture with raised bumps and a risk of vascular blebs that can bleed dangerously.
“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,” Brooke explained, per Daily Mail.
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Six months after his birth, Brooke and her partner, Kewene Wallace, 30, decided to begin Pulsed Dye Laser treatments on the mark after getting advice from specialists at Queensland Children’s Hospital.
“The purpose of the laser treatments is not to ‘remove’ the birthmark but instead keep the skin healthy, to prevent any further damage to the area,” she said.
For over two years, Kingsley underwent six laser sessions. Today, at age three, the deep violet tone has faded to a pale pinkish-purple undertone on one side of his face.
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“Honestly, when I first started reading the negative comments, I sat there for a good half hour and cried to myself,” she admitted. “I had a whole heap of mum guilt, and it made me question my decision, even though I knew I was doing the right thing, the cruel words still played in my head.”
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“I just wish these people had known about the health issues connected to these types of birthmarks before writing these things. This wasn’t for cosmetic reasons, and as parents, this was the hardest decision we have had to make,” she added.
Although the criticism no longer upsets her as much, the mom hopes more people will learn about the risks associated with port-wine stains.
“I tell them that this will give him the best chance at not adding to his long list of medical issues he already has,” she said. “And if they respond rudely to that, I try my best not to tell them what I really think, but sometimes it’s hard.”
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Brooke’s son continues to face health challenges as in June, she revealed he had multiple seizures just a month after his previous one.
“As a mother, it broke my heart,” she said. “We honestly just need a break. A break from it all. A break for his little body to recover fully.”
Despite ongoing hospital visits and overnight stays, the mom shared in July that her son was “doing really good” after recovering from “a few sicknesses”.
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