They branded her a ‘monster’ – but Brooke Atkins, 33, knew she was right to use the treatment on her little boy. Little Kingsley was welcomed to the world in January last year by Brooke and her partner Kewene Wallace, 27.
He was a large mark covering half of his face – the mark is also known as a port wine stain and they are usually harmless.
But the family were soon told that their little boy had a rare illness.
Port wine stains covering the face and eye have been linked to glaucoma and a rare neurological disorder called Sturge Weber Syndrome.
This is a condition that causes seizures and other disabilities, while glaucoma affects vision and can cause blindness.
Sadly, Kingsley had both conditions.
It led his mum to make the tough decision on May 31 last year to use laser treatment on his skin.
Brooke said: “The thing with port wine stains is that they are progressive, meaning they will change and darken over time.
“They can develop a ‘cobblestone’ appearance, with raised bumps, ridges and the risk of vascular blebs, where they dangerously bleed.
“Once a port wine stain gets to this stage, it is often very difficult to treat and laser barely has any effect, as the skin is already far too damaged.”
When he was first born, the family were referred to the Queensland Children’s Hospital dermatology and vascular department in Australia.
This is where they organised the first treatment and it was explained in further detail why laser would be important for little Kingsley.
Brooke said: “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.”
The Pulsed Dye Laser is the most effective treatment for the condition, but Brooke has been criticised on social media for her decision to give Kingsley the procedure.
One person said: “Don’t think I could laser my baby.”
Another commented: “That birthmark is barely visible, what you’re doing to him is horrible, it’s more for you than him.”
“Brainwashed mother making her kid insecure the second he gets out the womb,” a third said.
However, many people were quick to rush to her defence saying she is his mum and therefore knows best.
Brooke said that when she first started reading negative comments, she cried to herself.
She said she had a whole heap of mum guilt, which made her question her decision.
Even though she knew she was doing the right thing, she said the cruel words still played in her head.
“Thankfully for every negative comment, there were 100 positive, so it 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, judgement from those who have no understanding around my son’s conditions.”
While she says she constantly worries about her son’s future, he continues to hit all his milestones.
