In an inspiring act of maternal love, British mother Celine Casey went to great lengths for her daughter, Vienna Brookshaw, who was born in April 2021 with a congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) birthmark between her eyebrows. Though the birthmark posed no medical risk, Casey worried about the potential emotional toll it might take on Vienna as she grew up. She observed that people often stared, and Vienna seemed uncomfortable with the attention. Casey, deeply committed to her daughter’s well-being, said they would always love her unconditionally, with or without the mark. Motivated by a desire to protect her daughter’s self-esteem, Casey sought to have the birthmark removed after noticing that Vienna was being treated differently than other children.
When the National Health Service (NHS) declined their request for removal surgery—labeling it cosmetic—Casey launched a crowdfunding campaign that quickly raised $52,000. However, due to rising hospital costs during the COVID-19 pandemic, they still needed an additional $27,000 and turned again to GoFundMe. Casey emphasized that even young children are aware of their appearance, especially as they prepare to start school. Fortunately, the surgery was eventually successful, and Vienna, now a healthy two-year-old, is left with only a small scar. Casey continues to update supporters on her daughter’s recovery and praises Vienna’s strength and beauty, using their story to raise awareness about the emotional impact of visible birthmarks and the importance of compassionate parenting.
