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Macey-Mai was born with a uncommon pores and skin situation inflicting over 100 birthmarks and a excessive threat of melanoma
Her mom, Katelyn Clarke, displays her painful lesions day by day after one was discovered to be cancerous
Docs are involved concerning the most cancers spreading as Macey-Mai faces potential life-threatening surgical procedures and ongoing therapy
A ten-month-old woman is going through a most cancers prognosis after her uncommon birthmark brought about “painful bleeding lesions.”
Katelyn Clarke — a 23-year-old from Plymouth, England — had a standard and wholesome being pregnant earlier than giving delivery in Might 2025 to her third youngster, daughter Macey-Mai.
Nevertheless, shortly after, she realized that her little woman was born with big congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN). It’s a uncommon pores and skin situation characterised by an abnormally darkish, noncancerous tumor-like birthmark (nevus), in response to the Nationwide Institutes of Well being.
GCMN — usually dry and vulnerable to irritation, itching and extreme hair development — can seem anyplace on the physique. People with the situation have an elevated threat of growing an aggressive type of pores and skin most cancers known as melanoma, the NIH mentioned.
Katelyn Clarke and her daughter Macey-Mai
Credit score: William Dax / SWNS
For Macey-Mai, the biggest CMN covers her total again, and he or she has over 100 smaller-sized CMNs on her abdomen, scalp, legs and arms. Clarke instructed Southwest Information Service that she was “fully shocked” when she realized of the darkish marks.
As a result of Macey-Mai additionally had seven painful lesions on her largest birthmark that had been bleeding and rising quickly, they needed to be eliminated.
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Katelyn Clarke and child Macey-Mai
Credit score: William Dax / SWNS
In August 2025, she had a biopsy and likewise underwent surgical procedure to take away the lesions, which had been despatched for genetic testing.
Clarke spent months ready for outcomes, and in meantime, Macey-Mai’s lesions had been handled with antibiotics. She was additionally instructed by docs to watch her daughter’s lesions for any modifications in dimension — any variations may very well be an indication of most cancers.
“Each single day I’ve bought to take photographs, to sit down there and take a look at each single inch of her,” she defined. “Any modifications, even the smallest modifications can warrant the worst.”
Macey-Mai
Credit score: William Dax / SWNS
Sadly, in March 2026, Clarke obtained upsetting biopsy outcomes: One in all Macey-Mai’s lesions is cancerous.
“I’ve by no means cried like that earlier than, my coronary heart’s been damaged since we obtained the information that one of many lumps was malignant,” she instructed the outlet. “It has been very arduous to understand.”
“I knew that with this situation you’d most likely face malignancy sooner or later however they mentioned that’s when you’re an grownup,” she added. “They by no means say you could be born with it so it’s devastating to know that it’s already the case.”
Katelyn Clarke and child Macey-Mai
Credit score: William Dax / SWNS
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Clarke has since been sharing updates on GoFundMe, revealing that as Macey-Mai’s lesions proceed to develop, docs have considerations of the most cancers spreading. She’ll probably should endure one other surgical procedure and therapy.
“It’s extraordinarily arduous to navigate being a mum or dad of three but in addition being a mum or dad of a child with such a uncommon situation,” she instructed SWNS.
As Macey-Mai approaches her first birthday, Clarke admitted that the milestone is bittersweet with the continued well being issues, however she desires to offer her daughter the “finest birthday ever.”
“We are going to by no means know if it will be the final,” she mentioned.
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