Nancy Gay, News 13 Medical Reporter
Birthmarks are often called stork bites or angel kisses and one boy is hoping to eliminate misconceptions about birthmarks.
Evan Ducker is a talented 12-year-old painter. He also plays guitar and, along with his mother, he co-authored a children's book about a bird born with a birthmark. The book is titled Buddy Booby's Birthmark."
"I wanted a book that had a character with a birthmark and when we looked and fund out there wasn't any, we decided to write our own," Ducker said.
Like Ducker, more than half of all babies are born with birthmarks. The marks are usually the result of too many blood vessels in one place or too many pigmented cells.
Evan undergoes several laser treatments a year.
"A laser can actually penetrate skin and target the blood vessel and actually destroy the blood vessel leaving skin intact," said Dr. Milton Warner, a pediatric plastic surgeon.
Ducker shared his story in his book because hopes to dispel the myths about birthmarks.
"They just ask me, 'What's on your face,' or, 'Is it poison ivy, or did you get hit?'
I just tell them its a birthmark," Ducker said.
Ducker is going beyond just promoting awareness. Part of the proceeds of his book go to the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation.