My name is Laura, and I am from County Derry (Northern Ireland). I am 28 years old and living with CMN. I was born with CMN covering 98% of my body. From birth I have undergone numerous surgeries to reduce the appearance of my CMN; however, it is still very visible and a part of me.
Growing up in a small town and attending local primary and secondary schools meant that everyone came to know me and my CMN. There were never any stares, pointing, or whispering… I was just me. This, together with a very supportive family, meant I was able to be like every other child I grew up with. I was able to be me.
Still, I used to (and sometimes still do) let it bother me because I thought the rest of the world might not be as kind. I’d worry about stares, questions, and fingers pointing from strangers. Some stares were curious, some were kind, some weren’t. I learned early that my skin would start conversations I didn’t ask for, and for years I thought that if I could just cover it, I could be normal. I’d plaster my face with makeup every day (and still do) before I left the house and planned outfits around hiding, just in case. However, I am slowly accepting how I look, not because it got easier overnight, but through the support of Caring Matters Now and the understanding that life is bigger than my CMN.
My parents taught me to be resilient long before I knew what the word meant. They didn’t wrap me in bubble wrap. They raised me to deal with stares and answer questions with my head held high and to know my worth wasn’t skin deep.
I am a mummy to Freddie, my three-year-old son. He looks at my CMN and calls them “mummy’s beauty spots.” He doesn’t see a condition, and because of him I stopped apologizing for being seen. He is growing up knowing that being different is normal and not scary.
Next year I am getting married to Mark who grew up in the same small town, matches the resilience I was raised with, and never asked me to cover up, calm down, or be less.
Sometimes I used to question whether CMN would get in the way of what I strive to achieve in life. I learned that was not the case. I am a full-time legal executive and an aspiring solicitor who is building a career out of standing up, speaking up, and showing up. Through my personal story, I want to show what is possible while living with CMN… you are more than what people see first, and you are the only person who can set your limits!
Accepting my CMN is an ongoing process, but I am getting there. One day I will get up and walk out the door with no makeup on. Watch this space!
