A mom is committed to making sure everyone knows how truly lovely her daughter is. Winry, the 13-month-old daughter of Nicole Hall, has a rare birthmark known as congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN), making her stand out from other kids.
“When they first handed her to me, I thought it was a bruise,” Hall told “Good Morning America.” “It was then quickly apparent to my husband and I that it was not a bruise. And like the name, I thought it looked a lot like a mole.”
According to the report from the National Organization for Rare Diseases, as shared by Dr. Harper Price from Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Dr. Heather Etchevers from Marseille Medical Genetics, CMN can appear as patches ranging from light brown to black. These patches may show up in different ways, covering almost any size or part of the body.
Rather than feeling upset about her daughter’s situation, Hall expressed that she harnessed the influence of social media to raise awareness about CMN. She aimed to inspire others by conveying the message that embracing one’s “uniqueness” can be a superpower.
“For a lot of people, this is the first time seeing a birthmark like hers and that’s part of why I enjoy sharing,” Hall said. “This is a good conversation for parents with their children to see kids have differences, or for those parents who do have a kid that looks like Winry or has any kind of a birthmark to see their child represented.”
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia mentions that Winry’s diagnosis might increase her chances of getting melanoma. However, Hall is more concerned about the possibility of Winry facing bullying as she grows up than the cancer risk. Nevertheless, Hall remains vigilant by taking extra steps to keep Winry’s skin safe.
“Her health and happiness are our top priority. We have to monitor her with sunscreen. I’m careful with hats and that sort of thing,” Hall said. “I know our regular dermatology appointment is probably going to be our best friend growing up.”
Winry’s mom mentioned that Winry stands out because of her personality.
“She just radiates joy. She’s almost always laughing or shrieking. She is just the happiest baby I have ever seen,” Hall said. “She’s a big talker already. We haven’t got a whole lot of words out, but she tells you like it is and she’s already getting a little bit of sassiness, so I think we’re gonna have a lot on our hands.”
Thanks to her huge TikTok following, Hall has connected with people worldwide who share a background similar to her daughter’s.
“We’ve got to talk to several people from Brazil with birthmarks,” Hall said. “One of them has one that is almost identical to Winry and it’s been so fun to talk to her because she’s almost exactly my age.”
Please share your thoughts about this story in the comments below and we shall wish you a happy and beautiful day!