Little Mila was borп with a birthmark oп her пeck that was so large it looked like a secoпd head.
At just five years old, Mila's congenital hemangioma appeared so prominent that it resembled an extra head. Paige Franks, terrified at the sight of a lump on her daughter Mia's neck, feared it was cancer. However, it turned out that Mila's birthmark was not cancer at all; rather, she was born with a congenital hemangioma, which is a cluster of tiny blood vessels beneath the skin.
Paige, 21, likened the tennis ball-sized lump to a "bag of blood" and confessed to her overwhelming fear that the birthmark might rupture. As a concerned mother of two, she became fixated on measuring the birthmark, which started shrinking after three months. Remarkably, the lump has now completely vanished from Mila's neck.
Mila's congenital hemangioma began to shrink after her birth.
A congenital hemangioma is a type of birthmark made up of small blood vessels under the skin. It develops before birth and typically reaches its maximum size during fetal development.
The exact cause of congenital hemangiomas is unknown, and they are not inherited. They can affect both boys and girls equally.
Congenital hemangiomas are categorized into three types:
1. Rapidly involuting congenital hemangiomas (RICH): These birthmarks reach their maximum size by the time the baby is born and then start to shrink rapidly. They usually flatten within 12 to 18 months, often leaving little to no visible trace.
2. Non-involuting congenital hemangiomas (NICH): These birthmarks do not involute or shrink significantly over time.
3. Partially involuting congenital hemangiomas (PICH): These birthmarks partially involute and may leave behind an indentation and prominent veins, which might require treatment at a later stage to improve their appearance.
NICH:
NICH may coпtiпυe to grow after birth iп proportioп with the baby.
Uпlike the RICH type, NICH do пot have a shriпkiпg stage.
PICH:
These are a combiпatioп of both RICH aпd NICH types.
For example, what might have iпitially appeared to be a RICH may start to shriпk bυt theп stop or oпe that appeared to be a NICH might start to shriпk after some time.
The reason behind this occurrence remains unknown.
There are three primary types of congenital hemangiomas: rapidly involuting congenital hemangiomas (RICH), non-involuting congenital hemangiomas (NICH), and partially involuting congenital hemangiomas (PICH).
RICH type hemangiomas develop while the baby is still in the womb and begin to shrink after birth. In contrast, NICH hemangiomas may continue growing after birth in proportion to the child's growth rate.
PICH types can exhibit characteristics of both RICH and NICH, with some shrinking after birth and others growing more slowly. The reasons for these variations are not well understood.
Mila was born with a RICH hemangioma. Paige shared her experience, saying, "I spent weeks in tears. We had to wait for a while because we weren't sure if it would ever reduce. I was worried it might be a NICH. I was quite anxious, but after doing my research, I found out that if it was a RICH, it would start to shrink at three to five months."
Now, at the age of one, Mila no longer bears the lump on the side of her neck.
"I just wanted her to reach this age," Paige shared. "There were concerns that it might affect her mobility, but it didn't. I thought she might need surgery; it was like a bag of blood, which can be risky. She has a strong neck and could give you a solid headbutt. I don't believe it caused her any pain. She used it as a pillow at night and would lie on it. My other child, Harvey [3], didn't have a birthmark, but I would be worried if I got pregnant again."
