A mum has revealed she gets trolled online and called a “monster” for choosing to laser her baby’s large facial birthmark – and says it’s to help her child. Brooke Atkins, 33, a stay-at-home mum and partner Kewene Wallace, 27, have two children together – their daughter Amarni, 2, and their six-month-old baby boy, Kingsley.
After welcoming Kingsley in January, the family realised there was a large mark covering half of his face – identified as a port wine stain. Port-wine stain birthmarks are usually harmless, but if on the face – particularly over the eye – it can be linked to glaucoma and a rare neurological disorder called Sturge Weber Syndrome.
Sturge-Weber syndrome causes seizures and other disabilities, while glaucoma effects vision and can cause blindness. Sadly, Kingsley was diagnosed with both.
"The thing with port wine stains is that they are progressive, meaning they will change and darken over time,” Brooke said. "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."
On May 31, they decided to use a laser treatment on Kingsley’s mark. She said: "The only way to treat a port wine stain is through laser treatments and the most effective laser for a it is called a Pulsed Dye Laser.
"The purpose of the laser treatments are not to 'remove' the birthmark but instead keep the skin healthy, to prevent any further damage to the area."
The family are currently going through the treatment with Kingsley and are amazed with him every day. But the choice to treat the mark has been slammed by trolls on TikTok, who Brooke says called her a “monster” after she shared a post about it.
One person said: "Don’t think I could laser my baby." Another commented: "That birthmark is barely visible, what you're doing to him is horrible, it's more for you than him."
Someone else said: "Did you deadass laser a baby." [sic] "Brainwashed mother making her kid insecure the second he gets out the womb," commented another user.
"Why is everyone supporting this," commented someone else. While others were quick to support her.
One person said: "You’re the mom and you know what is the best for him." Another commented: "He would've still looked as beautiful with or without the birthmark."
Of the reception she has received online, Brooke said: “Honestly, when I first started reading the negative comments, I sat there for a good half an hour and cried to myself. 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.
“Thankfully for every negative comment, there were 100 positive, so it helped a lot! I just wish these people had known about the health issues connected to these types of birthmarks before writing these things, that this wasn’t for cosmetic reasons and that as parents, this was the hardest decision we have had to make.
“That the last six months have been extremely hard on us and reading these comments, actually do hurt – this is the last thing we need, judgement from those who have no understanding around my sons conditions.” She added: "Although I constantly worry about my son’s future and what it will be like, he continues to hit all his milestones.
"This journey for our family has just started and there is a long road ahead but we will push through! Over 20 hospital appointments, two different hospitals, over 10 differenc specialists and doctors, five different medical departments, three MRI’s, one ultrasound, two hearing tests, two operations, two laser treatments and three diagnoses, all in six months – yet he is the happiest, most loving and sweetest boy you will ever meet!"
