An Aussie mum viciously branded a “monster” for lasering a large red birthmark on her baby boy’s face had revealed what the three-year-old looks like now.
An Australian mother who faced harsh criticism for having a large birthmark removed from her baby boy’s face with laser treatment has now shared how her son looks three years later.
Brooke Atkins, 36, welcomed her second child, Kingsley, in 2022. He was born with a large port-wine stain covering the right side of his face.
A port-wine stain (PWS) is a permanent birthmark that typically appears reddish or bluish in color and occurs due to abnormal blood vessels in the skin.
When a port-wine stain appears around the eyes or forehead, it can sometimes be linked to underlying health issues such as epilepsy or eye conditions like glaucoma.
In Kingsley’s case, he was diagnosed with glaucoma as well as Sturge-Weber syndrome, a neurological condition often associated with this type of birthmark that can cause seizures.
Despite criticism online, Brooke—who lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland—decided to pursue treatment for Kingsley’s port-wine stain. Over the course of two years, he underwent six laser therapy sessions aimed at reducing the visibility of the mark.
Brooke said she ignored online trolls who labeled her “brainwashed” and accused her of doing the procedure for herself rather than for her son. Recently, she shared updates on social media showing that the birthmark has faded significantly after the treatments.
Now three years old, Kingsley’s birthmark appears as a faint purple undertone on the right side of his face—very different from the deep violet color it once had.
In a TikTok video, Kingsley can be seen smiling and laughing while playing at home with his older sister, Amarni. The three-year-old appears cheerful and comfortable following the treatments.
For viewers who had not been following Brooke and Kingsley’s journey with his port-wine stain, it would likely be difficult to tell that he was born with the birthmark.
However, the mother of two still recalls the harsh criticism she received online after deciding—together with her partner, Kewene Wallace, 30—to begin laser treatment for their son when he was just six months old.
“That birthmark is barely visible. What you’re doing to him is horrible,” one person wrote at the time, although many others expressed support for the parents’ decision.
Another critic accused Brooke of making her son “insecure the second he gets out of the womb.”
Brooke later spoke about the backlash she received, admitting that the negative comments initially affected her deeply.
She said that when she first began reading the criticism online, she cried for about half an hour.
“I felt a huge amount of mum guilt, and it made me question my decision,” the mother of two explained.
“Even though I knew in my heart that I was doing the right thing, those cruel words kept replaying in my mind.
“I just wish people understood the health issues linked to these kinds of birthmarks before leaving comments like that.
“This wasn’t about cosmetics. As parents, it was one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make.”
Brooke says the journey is far from over, even after the many treatments Kingsley has already gone through. The young boy has undergone three eye surgeries to treat glaucoma and has experienced more than 100 seizures, which he still continues to have.
Despite these challenges, there have been encouraging updates. In July, Brooke shared that Kingsley was “doing really well” after recovering from several illnesses.