At the Little Baby Face Foundation, one of the most common conditions that we treat is hemangioma. (Cleft lip and palate are also prevalent, as they are the most common facial defect.) A hemangioma is a bright red birthmark, sometimes called a strawberry mark, that is made up of extra blood vessels. In most cases, it’s nothing to be concerned about, but sometimes if it grows at a rapid rate or is in a location that impedes a child’s wellbeing, it requires treatment.
We’ve put together some of the hemangioma stories from children we’ve treated at the Foundation over the last few years in order to raise awareness and also to help families who may be navigating treatment options for hemangioma.
Colby’s Journey with Hemangioma
You’ve probably noticed Colby’s picture on the homepage of our website with his beaming smile and beautiful blue eyes. It seems like another lifetime ago that one of those baby blue eyes was obstructed by a large hemangioma that threatened Colby’s eyesight. His parents struggled endlessly because local doctors were unable to help. They were also accused of child abuse, since the hemangioma looked like a prominent eye injury. We successfully removed the hemangioma on Colby’s eye through surgery, and thankfully, he did not lose vision, though he still needs to wear corrective lenses. Had we waited any longer, he would certainly have lost vision in the affected eye. We refer to Colby’s case often, as he really represents everything we do here at the Little Baby Face Foundation. This surgery was an incredible transformation, not only physically but also in terms of his confidence and well-being. It also brought a great sense of relief and peace to his family. You can read about Colby’s story in greater detail here.
Maria’s Journey with Ulcerated Hemangioma
Maria was born with a hemangioma that covered her upper lip and the tip of her nose. She spent her first day of life in an incubator because she wasn’t breathing correctly. At one week old, her hemangioma began ulcerating, and it started to grow rapidly. Maria cried a lot of the time, and she didn’t sleep or feed well due to the pain. Her family could not find a doctor in Bolivia who knew how to help, so they were overjoyed when Maria’s application was accepted at the Little Baby Face Foundation, where she would receive treatment from leading medical experts free of cost. The surgery changed her life. She doesn’t remember her treatment anymore, but her mom tells us that she still gives thanks to “the angels that changed her life when she was a baby” to this day. You can check out Maria’s full story here.
Analeigha’s Journey with a Hemangioma
Analeigha was born with a small red spot on her eye resembling a pimple, but as it continued to grow, it became evident to her parents that it needed medical attention, and after seeing three doctors, they found out that it was actually a hemangioma. Analeigha was given a steroid shot, and two different medications to try to shrink the hemangioma without success. Meanwhile, the hemangioma on her eye began to threaten her vision, and immediate intervention was necessary. She came to the Little Baby Face Foundation at 6 months old for an emergency surgery. The biggest question was if she would be able to see in her affected eye once the hemangioma was surgically removed, and we were relieved to discover that her eyesight has much improved. Dr. Waner said he considers it a miracle that Analeigha’s eyesight was not lost due to the hemangioma. Our doctors had also anticipated a second surgery to remove excess skin on her eyelid, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised to see that her eyelid barely shows any sign of her hemangioma or surgery. You can read Analeigha’s full story here.
Adaleyn’s Journey with Hemangioma
Adaleyn had three hemangiomas, but one of them on her neck grew rapidly. At just 3 months old, it was clear to her parents that she needed expert care. They took her to a children’s hospital where she was given propranolol, a beta-blocker that is sometimes used to treat hemangioma. The medicine initially helped a great deal, but then the hemangioma remained the same for months, until the hospital decided it was time to cease treatment. After stopping the propranolol, Adaleyn’s hemangioma quickly grew again, bigger than ever before. Adaleyn’s mother found the Little Baby Face Foundation at a conference for vascular birthmarks, and she applied immediately. Adaleyn had her hemagioma surgically removed at the Little Baby Face Foundation at age 2, and she’s doing wonderfully well. Adaleyn has been given back her childhood, and her family is so relieved to see her happy, healthy, and thriving.
Gracie’s Journey with Hemangioma
Gracie was born with a segmental hemangioma as well as an airway hemangioma that obstructed 30% of her airway, making it difficult to breathe. Her mouth wouldn’t open large enough even to fit a small teaspoon. She had to have a feeding tube placed at just one month old. Gracie has now had several treatments at the Little Baby Face Foundation, and even though she still has more treatments to go, the progress she’s made so far has been transformational. She is now able to eat and speak without pain. Gracie will be having her next surgery in July 2023, so stay tuned on our Instagram and Facebook page for an update using the hashtag #GracieLBFF. You can read about Gracie’s story here, and her most recent update here.
We also encourage you to check out our blog post on hemangioma to learn more about this condition and how it is treated. If you have a child with a hemangioma that affects their wellbeing or quality of life, you can apply for treatment at the Little Baby Face Foundation here.
