A woman named Brooke Atkins, recently revealed that people started to troll her online by saying her a “monster” when she decided to laser the huge birthmark on her baby’s face.
This mother belonged to the Gold Coast and is a stay-at-home mum. She has two kids a two-year-old daughter named Amarni and a six-month-old son named Kingsley, with her husband Kewene Wallace, 27.
This January, a large port wine stain started to appear on half of Kingsley’s face.
It is common that some kids to have port-wine stain birthmarks on the face and sometimes it occurs on the eye area. But it can often associate with a neurological disorder, Sturge Weber Syndrome, or glaucoma.
In a result of glaucoma, blindness can occur while Seizures are related to Sturge-Weber syndrome.
Both the disorders were discovered in Brooke’s son Kingsley, and his port wine stains might be darker in the future and will change from time to time.
While talking with NeedToKnow.online: Brooke describes that they can grow like a ‘cobblestone’ with raising bumps, and ridges and it also has the risk of vascular blebs in which they can bleed extremely.
“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.”
The family decided mutually that the further treatment of Kingsley’s mark would begin on 31, May.
Brooke 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.
“When he was first born, we were referred to the Queensland Children’s Hospital dermatology and vascular department, where they organise the first treatment and explain in further details why laser would be important.”
“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.”
Instead of giving praise to the Kingsley family for their endless efforts for him, people on Tiktok started to call Brooke a “monster” because she chose to undergo treatment for her son’s birthmark.
Someone commented, “Don’t think I could laser my baby.”
The other one wrote: “That birthmark is barely visible, what you’re doing to him is horrible, it’s more for you than him.”
Someone also commented to her: “Did you deadass laser a baby.”
“Brainwashed mother making her kid insecure the second he gets out the womb,” said by another user.
“Why is everyone supporting this,” the other one wrote.
In response, some people supported her and encouraged her with positive comments.
Someone said: “You’re the mom and you know what is the best for him.”
The other commenter wrote: “He would’ve still looked as beautiful with or without the birthmark.”
As for 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.
“Thankful for all the people who gave negative comments. Received around 100 of positive comments that’s 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, judgment from those who have no understanding around my sons conditions.”
Source: 7 News