My name is Charlotte. I am from Surrey and I was born with a large scalp CMN that also covers my right ear, as well as smaller satellites across my body. When I was born, the operating room was filled with confusion. I was healthy enough to go home; however, the head paediatrician who could properly look at my birthmark wasn’t available for three days.
My parents had to make a tough call to either head home or stay in the hospital and wait. They chose to stay. It was easily one of the best decisions they ever made. Even though CMN is rare, by pure luck, that paediatrician recognized my condition because he had seen a case of it five to six years earlier which therefore made him familiar with Dr. Kinsler’s work. Because of that choice, I secured an early diagnosis and got into the right medical system from very early on which is extremely lucky.
When I was nearly two years old, I underwent surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to partially remove the scalp CMN via a skin graft. The surgery was thankfully a success; both myself and my parents are very happy with the result.
As someone with CMN, life can feel very overwhelming and a little bit scary as you always feel like people are staring or judging. I have had to overcome these social challenges, particularly in school, both in primary and in secondary. For example, in secondary school, going swimming during PE for the first time was quite daunting because a lot of my birthmarks were then visible. But overtime, I became more confident with the way I looked compared to my peers. I had to remind myself that just because I looked different, does not mean I am less worthy or less intelligent than them. In fact, it has actually made me stronger, I have gained more empathy and genuine awareness for those around me.
I am currently considering taking on the young ambassadors’ programme as I want to support more people with CMN. I have also taken on work experience with this charity as I really wanted to give back as they have offered so much support and advice. I was able to work alongside Hannah Cree as well as a lot of other inspiring people to work on a CPD accreditation for Midwives. This has further contributed to my passion in the field as I want to become a midwife myself.
I cannot thank Caring Matters Now enough for helping and supporting me since I was a baby, as their guidance has played a huge role in helping me build the confidence I have today.
To read more about Charlotte’s Work Experience, follow this link.
