Hi, I’m Jack Bowie, and I’m 13 years old. I want to share my story about living with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN).
When I was born, I had a large CMN on my scalp and some satellites on my legs. When I was just six weeks old, I had to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital for an MRI scan of my brain and spine. It was a really scary time for my parents because they were also told I had an increased risk of melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Fortunately, they met a wonderful doctor, Dr. Kinsella, who helped to reassure them and put them in touch with Caring Matters Now for more support.
Growing up, I had to be very careful in the sun. I always wore hats and long-sleeve tops and played inside when it was really hot. As I got older, my scalp CMN started to fade, but then my hair began to turn grey. This made me feel quite self-conscious because other kids at school would ask if I had paint in my hair or why I looked like an old man.
Luckily, my close friends have never made me feel uncomfortable about my birthmark. My school friends have always been supportive and never made me feel bad about having something that makes me different. Whenever anyone asked about it, I would simply say, “It’s my birthmark.”
I got used to it after a while, but when I started secondary school, I decided to dye my hair to cover up the grey, which luckily, I am able to do. Now, I feel much better about my appearance.
I’m really honoured to be an ambassador for Caring Matters Now. This charity supports people like me who have CMN and works to raise awareness about this rare condition. I hope that by sharing my story, I can help others understand what it’s like to live with CMN and encourage more people to support our cause.
Thank you for reading my story.
Jack
