A mom who was labeled a 'child abuser' for having her baby's birthmark removed has said she has 'no regrets'.
Brooke Atkins, who goes by @brookecyn on TikTok, shared her decision to remove her son's port-wine stain birthmark on his face on the video sharing platform and was quickly criticized.
Her tot Kingsley underwent laser surgery to have the birthmark removed. According to medical professionals, the birthmark would have only gotten darker as he got older.
"The reason we started so early with the laser is due to the fact it is a port-wine stain birthmark," Brooke explained in her now-viral TikTok video. "Port-wine stain birthmarks do not fade, they do not disappear."
She went on: "They darken over time, they can progress and become lumpy and cause health issues. The younger they are the better it is to start the laser because it is fresh on their skin and it is less stubborn."
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In regards to any pain during laser surgery, The Royal Children's Hospital in Australia describes the procedure as being 'similar to small flicks on the skin with a rubber band'.
Noting that most adults can tolerate the discomfort, children are able to use anaesthetic cream or mild sedation so they're not in pain.
Now speaking to UNILAD about the barrage of abuse she received online after sharing her son's story, Brooke said: "At first it was hard, honestly there were quite a few tears. People calling me a horrible mother and that my child should be taken from me was extremely difficult to read.
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"As time went on, I grew stronger and more confident within myself. I started to understand that those making these hurtful comments were either uneducated on Port-Wine Stain Birthmarks or bored social media warriors. Basically as the old saying goes - if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I could also say a lot more but choose not to stoop to their level."
Brooke further shared that she approached the Vascular Birthmark Foundation and spoke to its founder to seek advice about Kingsley's birthmark and having it removed.
"She quickly informed me that laser before one was the best option in hopes for the best outcome for Kingsley," said Brooke. "She provided me with evidence to also back this, with studies done by many Vascular specialists."
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She continued: "Basically treating the vascular birthmark within the first year, before the skin has aged, damaged by the sun and prior to the birthmark progressing, can result in less treatments needed in the future, and to also gain the best clearance."
Brooke went on to double down about her previous comments about personally not caring if her son had a birthmark or not, but was worried he would have been bullied for it by others.
"Other people who have a PWS spoke to me about the troubles they had dealt with through life and that removing it while young, would be best in regards to preventing bullying and further medical issues," the mom said.
"Unfortunately there are many people with this type of birthmark that have suffered greatly at the hands of bullies their whole lives. Many have said they wish their parents had this option when they were a baby."
Topics: Parenting, Health, Social Media, TikTok
Niamh Shackleton