Dad Gets Tattoo Of Daughter's Large Birthmark

By Zainab Pervez in Parenting On 29th April 2022
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Karl Bailey, of Ellesmere, Shropshire, got the shape of Isla's large birthmark on her back tattooed on to his leg.

Isla, five, has Congenital Melanocytic Naevi, which causes dark, often hairy and lumpy birthmarks all over the skin.

Mr Bailey said he hoped the public would ask about the tattoo so he can raise awareness of the condition.

credit: bbc
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"As a family, we have always chosen or picked a special spot of Isla's; mine being the largest one that probably covers 80% of her back," he said.

"Hopefully we can continue to build her confidence from a young age because once she gets to her teenage years, she may come across some difficult circumstances".

Isla has a twin sister called Ruby, who does not have the condition.

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Mum Emma Bailey said Isla's condition is never something they hide, and added: "When we are on the beach and her twin sister is in a nappy, so is Isla; we never treated her any different."

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Alongside Mr Bailey's birthmark tattoo is the symbol of the charity Caring Matters Now, which has supported Isla and her family.

The charity was founded by Jodi Whitehouse in 1997, who also has CMN.

The 41-year-old had around 30 operations to treat her birthmarks up until the age of 15. She added that "there was no understanding about the condition" and said not even "doctors, midwives or consultants had seen anything like it before".

After meeting a consultant at Great Ormond Street hospital as a teenager, they asked if Ms Whitehouse's family minded if their phone number could be given to other people with the condition, for advice and support.

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Twenty-five years on and the charity has helped find the cause of CMN and is now hoping to find a cure.

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Isla Bailey, five, was born with a large Congenital melanocytic Naevi (CMN) birthmark covering her back, as well as over 100 moles on her legs, arms, and face, which she calls her "special spots".

And in a bid to help her feel more confident in her own skin, her 33-year-old dad Karl Bailey has now had an identical tattoo of the mark on his leg - which left little Isla feeling "very happy" and "a little emotional".

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He said: “When Isla saw the tattoo she was shocked that I now had ‘special spots’ too. She was very happy and seemed a little emotional.”

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