The countdown to a baby’s arrival is always filled with excitement, nerves, and endless daydreams about finally holding that tiny miracle.
For Andrew and Lacey Jackson, already parents to two boys — Elliott and Devin — the anticipation of welcoming their baby girl was almost overwhelming.
Couldn’t help but worry
When baby Natalie finally entered the world, their hearts overflowed with joy. But that joy was quickly mixed with fear when the doctor’s expression changed.
“Hearing her first cry was so special,” mom Lacey recalled back in 2018.
”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 in case it was something I had done to her during my pregnancy”
“Medics said it was just a birthmark, though, and she was breathing and healthy.”
Although relieved, both Lacey and Andrew couldn’t help but worry about how others might see their daughter.
“As I cuddled our gorgeous baby girl, feeling enamoured by her, I worried that people might just see her for her birthmark, and not the beautiful person I knew she would grow to be.
“In that moment, I decided we would love her so much and give her all the confidence in the world, to make sure she could see how beautiful she is – and how she can achieve anything she wants.”
Natalie’s older brothers were instantly curious about their sister’s unique look.
Andrew came up with a heartwarming explanation that turned what could have been a stigma into a source of pride. He told them the dark patch on Natalie’s face was her superhero mask — proof she was destined to achieve amazing things.
During Natalie’s first year, some strangers stared. But there were also those who stopped to tell the Jacksons how gorgeous and one-of-a-kind their little girl was.
“We’ll always tell her it’s a part of who she is and who she is supposed to be. People will always know how special she is with her birthmark and how amazing she is inside and out.”
Nathaie’s story went viral when she was born. Her dad, Andrew Jackson, is originally from Hull, England, and works for a software company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Her mom is an autopsy technician.
Concerned for her health, Andrew and Lacey sought medical reassurance. Natalie saw an ophthalmologist to ensure her vision wasn’t affected, visited a dermatologist and skin specialist, and even underwent an MRI.
It turned out that Natalie was born with Congenital Melanocytic Nevi (CMN). These are moles present at birth or that develop within the first few months of life. They are fairly common and, in most cases, do not cause any health problems.
Thankfully, all of Natalie’s results came back fine. While the dermatologist explained Natalie might face a slightly higher risk of melanoma, they assured the family it was just a birthmark and nothing to fear.
“Prior to her birth, we were completely unaware of this condition and the fact that she was one of the rare. She is even more rare considering her body has somehow lightened her nevus so much as well as eliminated the satellite nevi she was born with and no other satellites have shown up in her 4 short years. She is one of the fortunate,” Lacey wrote a few years ago.
Natalie Jackson today
Since Natalie’s birth, Lacey Jackson has been open about their family’s journey and continues to share updates on Instagram, giving us a glimpse of her daughter’s growth. Judging by the photos, Natalie is thriving and living a happy, normal life.
She is compassionate, caring, intelligent, and incredibly silly. Her parents say she is deeply loved, their gorgeous little superhero.
From the moment she was born with that tiny birthmark, her parents have loved her endlessly and taught her to be confident in every part of herself. And now? She’s living her best little life — so happy, so playful, and honestly, just the cutest little superhero ever!