A Hull dad and his American wife have shared their surprise after their daughter was born with a large black birthmark covering a third of her face.

Andrew Jackson and his wife Lacey, were “filled with panic” when little Natalie was born on January 9 with a distinctive dark mark that reminded them of the superhero Batman.

Mrs. Jackson said: “Hearing her first cry was so special. Then the nurse lifted our girl up after my C-section, and I saw the big black mark on the left-hand side of her face.

“She was so beautiful, but it looked like a bruise and I was worried it might have been something that happened during my pregnancy.

“Medics reassured us it was a birthmark, and she was breathing well and healthy.”

As the mum cradled her newborn baby, who weighed 7lb 1oz at birth, she began to wonder how other people might react to the mask-like mark after doctors explained that it would continue to grow as Natalie grows.

“As I cuddled our gorgeous baby girl, completely in love with her, I worried that people might only notice her birthmark instead of the beautiful person I knew she would become.

“In that moment, I decided we would love her endlessly and give her all the confidence in the world, so she would always know how beautiful she is—and that she can achieve anything she dreams of.”

Mr. Jackson, who is originally from Hull before moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, to live with his wife, works for a software company, while Mrs. Jackson is an autopsy technician.

The couple have two older children, Elliott, seven, and Devin, four. After meeting their baby sister for the first time, the boys came up with her superhero nickname.

“One of the boys asked, ‘What’s that on her face, mummy? What’s the black mark?’ I told him it was her superhero mask,” Mrs. Jackson said. “I told them that, because of it, she could achieve anything.”

“People tell us how amazing her birthmark is and how beautiful she is, and we couldn’t agree more.

“We’ll always tell her it’s part of who she is and who she’s meant to be. People will always know how special she is because of her birthmark—and how wonderful she is inside and out.”

A week after Natalie was born, her parents took her to see an ophthalmologist, a specialist in eye care.

They wanted to make sure the birthmark was not affecting her eyesight. They also visited a dermatologist and another skin specialist, while Natalie also underwent an MRI scan.

Because of the condition, Natalie may face several health challenges as she grows up, but her parents have chosen not to remove their daughter’s distinctive birthmark.

Although some strangers occasionally stare at the youngster in public, Natalie’s parents say it doesn’t bother them.

They believe “it’s good to be different” and want her to embrace her birthmark, hoping it will help her grow into a confident and resilient person.

Mrs. Jackson said: “The dermatologist told us it was a birthmark, but it would grow as she did, meaning it would always cover a large part of her face.

“Although we were told her birthmark means she has a slightly higher chance of developing melanoma, a form of skin cancer, because of abnormal cells, it was still a huge relief to finally have answers.

“We know she may face some challenges, but her mark reminds us that she’s going to be strong, no matter what life brings her way.”

Source: Hull Daily Mai