- Title Baby With Rare Three-Inch Birthmark on Forehead Undergoes Life-Changing £11,000 Surgery
- Summary 'Happy, cheeky and independent' Vienna was born with a three by three inch brown birthmark, also known as a CMN, congenital melanocytic naevus, in the centre of her lower forehead. Her parents, Celine Casey, 25, and Daniel Brookshaw, 27, from York love Vienna's beautiful blemish, but at first 'felt like we were in a bubble of anxiety rather than a baby bubble of joy.' Mum Celine, a small business owner said: "My pregnancy with Vienna was normal, a little nausea at the beginning but everything was healthy at the 12, 20 and 36 week 4D scans. "However looking back at the scan photos you can see the CMN (birthmark) on Vienna's forehead." She worried that she had done something to cause her daughter's mark when she was born at a healthy 7.4 lb in the early hours of 6 April, 2021. Questions such as: 'Is she ok', 'whats on her head', and 'have I done something', flew around the delivery room. Celine said: "The midwives had no clue what it was, they had never seen anything like that before. "I had to stay in that full day to get answers from the doctor who came to look at Viennas birthmark." Three-week-old Vienna was referred to a paediatric surgeon and a dermatologist at St James University Hospital in Leeds. The consultants quickly decided that they would not treat her CMN so they opted for private treatment, fearing that she could face bullying as she grows up, or worse - that the benign cells could turn cancerous. On the couple's social media account that documents Vienna's birthmark journey, they receive hateful comments about how she looks, but in person the family of four are always met with smiles and the odd stare. On 26 April, 2022, the confident little girl underwent the first of three life-changing surgeries at Portland Hospital, London. Mr Dunaway completed the first surgery in under an hour. He was very pleased with how well it went and stressed that it was a minimal risk surgery. This surgery came at a hefty cost of £3,752, which will be paid again at the next surgeries. The family are grateful for the generous donations made to their GoFundMe that financed the incredible procedure. Older brother Lukas, two-years-old, dotes on his sister and has never seen her difference. But post-surgery he was confused by the covering on her forehead and would pull a sad face saying 'aww, Vienna!' Her parents said she is very clever and incredibly independent for her age, saying that she is an 'inspiration to the world'. Celine said: "When Viennas birthmark has been fully removed she will live a happy life like any other child. "We will continue to raise awareness on CMNs and birthmarks through our social media platform, all this wouldnt have been possible if it wasnt for people who donated to our GoFundMe page. "Once Vienna has had her birthmark fully removed we will be looking to help someone in the same situation as us!" ENDS
- Credit viennarosebrookshaw via ARK Media
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User IP: 213.205.192.138
Date Posted: 5th May 2022
Categories: Cute, Health & Lifestyle, Heartwarming, Parenting & Kids, Top Picks, Viral