Brooke Atkins and her partner much anticipated the arrival of their son. But soon after he was born, they saw a noticeable “port wine” mark on his face that might have been dangerous for his health. The parents received some backlash when they decided to get laser therapy for the blemish. However, the worried mother valiantly defended her choice and explained why she had decided to have her son’s birthmark treated using laser therapy.
Baby’s rare skin condition and its complications.
Kingsley was born in 2022 to Brooke Atkins, a 34-year-old stay-at-home mother from the Gold Coast region of Queensland, Australia. It was revealed to her and her girlfriend, 28-year-old Kewene Wallace, that their son had an uncommon illness.
Although birthmarks caused by port-wine staining are usually harmless, their appearance on the face, especially in the vicinity of the eyes, may indicate the existence of diseases such as glaucoma and Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Seizures, various problems, and possible vision impairment—which may eventually result in blindness—may result from these diseases.
Unfortunately, Kingsley was diagnosed with both of these diseases, which raised questions about his general health. The issue with port-wine stains, according to Brooke—who also happens to be the mother of a 2-year-old girl called Amarni—is that they tend to get darker over time.
The mother decided to have laser treatment to get rid of the blemish.
In addition, Brooke faced backlash from trolls who referred to her as a “monster” for choosing to have her baby’s birthmark removed from her face. When a port-wine stain reaches this stage, the skin is already too damaged to be treated with a laser, and the problem can develop raised bumps, ridges, and the risk of vascular blebs, which can bleed dangerously.
Early intervention is essential for effective therapy, the worried mother claimed, adding that her choice was made with her child’s best interests in mind.
She received harsh criticism for her choice.
Brooke went on to say that the goal of the laser therapy was to maintain skin health and prevent further harm to the birthmark-affected area rather than completely remove it. Still, some people on the internet persisted in criticising the mother for choosing to have the surgery. A user made an argument that the birthmark was barely noticeable, suggesting that the mother was the one receiving therapy rather than the child. Another said that Brooke might have contributed to her son’s early insecurities.
The mother publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the critical remarks, highlighting the emotional suffering they caused her and her family. She said she wished people would learn more about her son’s health before making assumptions. “I know I’m right, even though I’m getting trolled for lasering my baby’s face,” the mother pressed. It’s not as though I woke up and made the decision to remove his birthmark. I don’t find him to be cute. He is, in my opinion, the most gorgeous boy on the planet. That much is beyond dispute,” she said in her explanation.
Thankfully, despite the harsh criticism she received on social media for choosing to have the surgery for Kingsley, some people have come.
Nevertheless, there is still a long journey ahead towards recovery.
The mother also mentioned that there is still a long way to go and that her family’s journey has only just begun. Her kid is still a joyful, loving, and sweet youngster, even after more than 20 hospital visits, consultations with 10 doctors in 5 different medical departments, and a plethora of tests and therapies.
With a hopeful view of her son’s future, Brooke is steadfast in her resolve to help him overcome any obstacles that may come along.
We previously told the tale of another woman whose child was born with an uncommon birthmark on her face. This mother is committed to making sure her daughter develops into the self-assured and happy adult she is now.
Preview photo credit kingsley_colvin / Instagram, kingsley_colvin / Instagram
