“My 6-year-old son Grant has a large Port Wine Stain birthmark covering part of his face. For years, it never bothered him. But in Kindergarten, everything changed. His pain doesn’t come from how it looks—it comes from strangers constantly asking ‘What happened to your face?’ or ‘What’s wrong with your face?’ Now he’s developed his canned response: ‘It’s just a birthmark,’ delivered matter-of-factly to every curious adult who can’t mind their own business around a child.”
Grant is six years old. He was born with a Port Wine Stain—a vascular birthmark that appears as a reddish mark on the skin, caused by capillary malformations. His birthmark covers part of his face, and for most of his early childhood, it was simply part of who he was. It didn’t define him, and it didn’t bother him.
But when Grant entered Kindergarten, the world began to respond differently. Adults—strangers—started asking invasive questions: “What happened to your face?” “Is something wrong?” These comments weren’t malicious, but they were constant, and they chipped away at Grant’s sense of normalcy. His pain didn’t come from the birthmark itself—it came from being treated like he was different.
So Grant adapted. He developed a calm, practiced response: “It’s just a birthmark.” He delivers it with quiet confidence, not to educate, but to protect himself. It’s his shield against a world that doesn’t always know how to be kind to difference.
Port Wine Stains affect about 3 in every 1,000 children. They vary in size and location, and while some are purely cosmetic, others may require medical attention. Laser therapy is often used to lighten the marks or prevent complications, but not every child needs or wants treatment. For Grant, the issue isn’t medical—it’s social.
Children like Grant face a unique challenge: navigating a world that fixates on appearance. The questions he hears aren’t just about curiosity—they reflect a deeper discomfort with visible difference. And yet, Grant’s response is a lesson in grace. He doesn’t lash out or retreat. He simply answers, and moves on.
Organizations like the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation and Children’s Minnesota share stories of kids like Grant and Evan Ducker, who also has a Port Wine Stain and advocates for awareness. These stories help shift the narrative—from pity to pride, from stigma to strength.
Grant’s story isn’t just about a birthmark. It’s about resilience, identity, and the power of a child to teach adults how to be better. His quiet courage reminds us that beauty isn’t about blending in—it’s about standing tall, even when others stare.