After Evan Ducker was born, his mom Donna began keeping him at home
because people were freaking out left and right about the port-wine
stain on his face, shrieking faux pas like "What's wrong with his
face!!" (some people are sooo tactful). Apparently the vascular
birthmark Evan was born with was something of a curiosity despite the
fact that about one in 1,000 babies are born with one. Donna
later strove to find books to show Evan he wasn't alone and that there
was nothing wrong with him (despite probably obvious and visceral
reactions from other people upon meeting him for the first time), but
finding none, they decided to write their own, and the book "Buddy Booby's Birthmark" was born (a portion of the book's proceeds goes to the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation).
Now Evan is twelve and he uses the book to help educate
other children about birthmarks like his. He also travels
regularly to receive painful laser treatments to lighten his birthmark,
a procedure that unfortunately may not have lasting effects since they
treat the effect and not the cause of it. Still, Evan's doctor
thinks he should continue the treatment since in children these
vascular birthmarks continue to grow and change somewhat, and in Evan's
case it could end up affecting his vision.
Sometimes it seems
like there are so many different things to worry about when it comes to
the health of our children. (Thanks, media!) But at least
one family is trying to make a difference to others in a similar
situation while at the same time dealing with the hand dealt them.
