A relieved mom has shared the heartwarming moment her baby girl had a prominent birthmark removed from her forehead, following a long and emotional journey to raise the funds needed for the transformative surgery.
Celine Casey, 27, from York, West Yorkshire, UK, has opened up about her daughter Vienna Shaw’s incredible journey after being born with a rare condition called congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN). Vienna, now two, had a large birthmark on her forehead, a condition that occurs in just 1 in 20,000 babies.
Celine and her husband were determined to find a doctor who could remove the mark so that Vienna could grow up without feeling “different” or facing potential bullying. Though they loved their daughter unconditionally, they worried about the impact it might have on her mental health as she grew older, especially as she prepared to start school.
“We love watching Vienna grow and we can’t wait for the day she can tell us how she feels about it,” Celine said. “We would have loved her no matter what, even if we had decided to keep the birthmark.”
However, the journey wasn’t easy. Celine admitted she initially blamed herself when Vienna was born with the birthmark, feeling scared and unsure of what it was. “When she was placed on my chest, I was worried—had I done something wrong? No one, not even the doctors, knew what it was.”
Though they embraced Vienna’s unique appearance, they were concerned about how it might affect her as she got older. “She’s going to start school soon, and little kids can be so honest,” Celine explained. “We didn’t want her to feel different or become self-conscious about her appearance.”
Unfortunately, the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK denied their request to remove the birthmark, stating it was not a medical necessity. The couple had to raise the money privately, and in just 24 hours, they raised an astounding £27,000 ($33,000) through a fundraiser. In total, they secured over $50,000 after the cost of surgery increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Everyone has things they’re insecure about, and the doctor respected that, but we knew this could affect Vienna’s mental health,” Celine said. “We didn’t want her to grow up feeling different, especially at such a young age.”
Vienna underwent the surgery, and while she still has a slight pigment on her forehead, Celine is overjoyed with the outcome. The family faced online bullying and trolling but were also flooded with support from those who followed Vienna’s story.
“We get so much love and positive feedback, and it’s heartwarming,” Celine shared. “We embraced Vienna for who she was, and we’ll always continue to do so.”
The NHS policy states that birthmark removal is only available if the condition poses a health risk. Those seeking removal for cosmetic reasons must pay for it privately.
The family is now excited for Vienna’s bright future and confident that they made the right decision for her well-being.