Parents will go to great lengths to safeguard their children, and these parents were no exception. Read on to discover the lengths they went to for their daughter.
One of the 20,000
When baby Vienna Brookshaw arrived in April 2021, her mother, Celine Casey, was filled with joy — until she noticed something surprising.
Born in the U.K., Vienna had a noticeable dark mark between her eyebrows, which made Celine’s heart drop. Was there an issue during the pregnancy?
Fortunately, doctors calmed her fears by confirming that the birthmark was completely harmless. Still, Celine couldn’t shake her concern about how it might impact her daughter’s feelings as she matured.
The unusual birthmark was identified as congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN), a condition that occurs in roughly 20,000 infants. It arises from a group of pigment cells that develop before birth and usually expand as the child matures.
While it poses no health risks, the location of the mark meant that Vienna would encounter inquisitive glances, uncomfortable inquiries, and potentially hurtful remarks—particularly from those who speak without considering their words. This prompted her parents to make a significant decision.
Vienna’s condition
The condition is uncommon, and it was impossible to predict how much the birthmark would expand as the girl matured. Her mother was certain that she wanted to spare her daughter from dealing with it in the future.
Casey quickly inquired with doctors about possible treatments for her daughter’s birthmark. She expressed her concern that if the birthmark remained, her daughter might hold a grudge against her parents later on.
The devoted mother expressed, “Watching her grow on her journey fills us with joy, and we eagerly anticipate the day she can voice her thoughts. Regardless of her birthmark, our love for her will remain unconditional.”
Her determination stemmed from noticing, even as an infant, that people would often stare at her daughter. She recognized that her baby was treated differently compared to others, which fueled her desire to have the birthmark removed.
When the NHS denied the surgery, the mother sought other options for assistance. Consequently, she launched a crowdfunding campaign to gather the necessary funds for private surgery.
Denied surgery
The NHS rejected the surgery, as they typically do for procedures deemed non-essential for physical health, categorizing it as cosmetic rather than vital.
In just one day, the parents managed to raise $52,000 for the surgery. Sadly, this amount fell short due to the soaring hospital expenses post-COVID-19, leaving them needing an additional $27,000.
They decided to turn to GoFundMe once more to cover the extra costs for their daughter’s birthmark removal. ‘Everyone has insecurities about their bodies, and while the doctor acknowledged that, he felt it wouldn’t impact Vienna’s mental health at this stage.
However, we disagreed; she’s starting school at three, and young kids are perceptive, often pointing out differences,’ the concerned mother explained. Now, at three years old, the little girl has had her birthmark completely removed, leaving just a small scar on her forehead. Her mother, Casey, frequently updates everyone on her daughter’s recovery and proudly describes her as ‘gorgeous.’
After the birthmark was removed, the couple visited London for the surgeon to check on the healing of the scar and to determine if Brookshaw would require any additional surgeries following her three previous ones.
Thankfully, she is currently a healthy three-year-old and doesn’t need any further treatment! We are sending our warmest wishes to little Brookshaw and hope she stays in great health! Please share her story with others!
