Stay-at-home mum Claire Burt has slammed cruel trolls for making nasty comments about her daughter’s unique birthmark – but refuses to get the unicorn-shape removed unless medically necessary
An eight-month-old girl has been trolled online due to her unique birthmark.
Lulu, who was born via C-section last year, has a rare condition medically referred to as congenital melanocytic nevus. This has presented itself as a unicorn-shaped mark on her forehead that has continued to grow ‘rapidly’.
Mum Claire Burt, 31, says she was first ‘shocked’ by the size of the mark but is determined to raise her daughter to be proud of her body. The stay-at-home parent, from New Zealand, has opened up on how people ‘always stare’ at her daughter when they’re out in public but that she refuses to remove the non-genetic condition unless medically necessary.
“Some think it’s cute, some ask about it, or we have had people laugh,” Burt said. “It made me feel very uncomfortable with the staring – especially at the start. One day, we had to do three different flights in one day so walking around the airport everyone would stare.
“I would just look forward and not make eye contact – but now, I just smile.” Lulu’s congenital nevus is so rare only one in every 20,000 live births is affected.
The mum explained that most of the nasty comments she receives online are from ‘grown adults’ – adding: “It makes me so mad, but I will continue to spread awareness for Lulu and we will make sure she knows how beautiful and special she is as she gets older.”
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Despite the onslaught of cruel comments and public stares, Lulu’s parents insist they will not remove the birthmark unless it’s for a ‘medical reason’. Instead, they will let ‘her decide’ if she wants to undergo surgery when she is older.
“It’s pretty much on her hairline, so it’s probably going to be covered as her hair grows,” Burt explained. “I suspect by then you’ll only be able to see the tip of it.
“We’re going to teach Lulu to love herself and to know that she’s beautiful, special and unique. It’s just a wee special spot on her head that doesn’t define her.”
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