"It's unique to be different. Unique is a good thing," said Martha Griffin during our recent phone conversation. They are the words that have not only helped to sustain and comfort both her and her husband; they have been instilled in their little boy who approaches his birthmark with a very matter-of-fact reasoning that it's, "only his birthmark, and it's no big deal," and are the driving force behind their very first book, What Makes Me Shine: Sam's Birthmark, which was published in 2012.
As our tale begins, little Sam delights in all those favorite activities as other little boy's do---playing with trucks, running in the park and chasing after his dog, Shakespeare. Life seems typically ordinary for Sam until one day, while playing in the playground, a little girl points at his face and asks, "What is that big red mark you have on your head?"
"It's my birthmark," replied Sam, I've had it from day one." But, when the little girl bluntly tells Sam, "Well," said Amy, "it makes you different from everyone!" Sam asks his mother if this was true. Gently, and with calm honesty, Sam's mother explains that when he looks around at all of the people in his life, there are many things that make them all different. "Will's red freckles and Elise's curly hair make them one-of-a-kind."
Filled with lovely illustrations by Mary Anne Smiley, the Griffin's simple, refreshingly honest tale warmed my heart. As the mother of a child with a vascular birthmark, I too, faced many of the same questions, unwanted comments and stares when my son was a baby, and I longed for a book that would also help to reinforce the same advice that my husband and I instilled in our son. I am extremely grateful that the Griffin's saw this need, and have created a beautiful story for all of the families like my own to share with their children.
As for the Griffin's literary future, Martha revealed that they plan on following up with a series of books in the future that will, "embrace all that makes our children unique." Whether you are looking for a story that promotes tolerance and acceptance of others as part of an anti-bullying lesson for your class, or if you are just interested in a story that celebrates what makes our children one-of-a-kind, What Makes Me Shine: Sam's Birthmark will be a perfect fit.
What Makes Me Shine: Sam's Birthmark is available through the Griffin's website: http://www.samsbirthmark.com
Momma's Side Note:
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the various types of vascular birthmarks, here's a little bit of info: The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that of the nearly four million children born in the United States each year, nearly 10 percent will be born with a vascular birthmark.
The Nemours Foundation, based in Wilmington, Delaware, explains that Port-wine stains occur in about three out of every 1,000 births and are diagnosed equally among males and females. Port-wine stains develop when an area of skin doesn't receive an adequate supply of nerve fibers to assist in keeping the blood vessels contracted. When there is a lack of nerve fibers, capillaries (small blood vessels) continue to expand, allowing a large amount of blood to flow into the blood vessels, causing a stain to appear under the skin.
Port-wine stains are commonly found on the face, but they can also appear anywhere on an infant's body. Port-wine stains appear flat in shape and are commonly pink-red in color at birth, and they will darken to a reddish-purple color as a child grows. Laser therapy has made a tremendous impact on treatment, as this is the only method available that not only has the capability to destroy the tiny blood vessels in the skin, but also causes the least amount of significant damage to a child's overlying skin.
For further information about vascular birthmarks, please visit the Vascular Birthmark Foundation's website at: www.birthmarks.org
