The stares and cruel comments about daughter Mia's birthmarks made Karis Frost shut herself and her baby away. But now Karis has come to terms with her daughter's condition and isn't afraid to show her off. She talks to LYNETTE PINCHESS about the need to educate the public to stop their insensitive remarks

"OH MY God, what's wrong with her face? " said the supermarket cashier.

This is the kind of insensitive remark that made Karis Frost shy away from going out with her baby daughter Mia.

While it's human nature to ask questions about the strawberry birthmarks on the little girl's face, Karis was upset by the insensitivity of strangers.

"People would go 'ah' before they looked in the pram and then 'oh' when they saw her. I found that quite hurtful," she said.

For months Karis, 24, struggled to come to terms with Mia's birthmarks and suffered post natal depression as a result.

"She gets stared at a lot and at first I found it hard to deal with," said Karis. "I have never been ashamed of her but it was easier to stay in to protect her."

But since meeting other parents through the Birthmark Support Group, Karis no longer wants to hide away – in fact she's just the opposite: She's keen to talk to the Evening Post in her bid to educate the public.

"There's nothing wrong with Mia. She just has birthmarks," said Karis, who lives with partner Sam Drury, 24, at their home in Gedling.

Sixteen-month-old Mia has three deep haemangiomas – a collection of small blood vessels that form a lump under the skin – one on her forehead and two near her right ear which make her cheek bulge.

They weren't present at birth. The first sign was tiny scratch-like marks two weeks later.

Karis became concerned when they started to grow into raised, bright red lumps.

Midwives, health visitors and doctors gave conflicting advice. Some said it would fade within a year while a consultant said it could still be there when she was 10.

Finally, when Mia was eight months old, a consultant at the Queen's Medical Centre asked if Karis had been in touch with the Birthmark Support Group.

Shed never heard of it – but then the family attended a BSG event in Essex where they met parents of children with all sorts of birthmarks.

Karis said: "The Birthmark Support Group was so supportive. Everyone wants the perfect baby and I'd think I haven't got a perfect baby then feel guilty for feeling like that. But I was told I shouldn't feel ashamed because everyone goes through it."

The family were also introduced to a consultant from Great Ormond Street Hospital who specialises in treating birthmarks.

Two months later Mia was referred to the London hospital where an ultrasound scan revealed there were no internal problems – a big weight off her parents' minds.

She is now on a 'watching and waiting' treatment plan, with appointments every six months.

Most haemangiomas do not need treatment and will disappear by school age. However, if Mia's haven't started to fade by the time she is two-and-a-half she may have laser treatment.

Both the BSG and hospital have given Karis renewed hope.

She said: "I am such a strong person now. I will take her anywhere even if people are staring and asking questions.

"People need educating. There is such ignorance, even in the medical profession, unless it is a specialist unit.

"If I can stop someone going through what I did, it will be worth it."

In January, two days after Mia's first birthday, her parents held a naming ceremony and a huge party.

Karis, who works for E.ON part-time, said: "I wanted to do the ceremony as a way of apologising to Mia for being so upset those first few months. It was my way of celebrating my beautiful little girl. She is the happiest child I know. She is always laughing and loves attention.

"I can't believe I ever felt so upset about this. My Mia is the perfect daughter and I love her so much."

As a means of thanking the BSG, Karis and Sam, an MoT tester, have organised a charity event to raise money and awareness.

Together with Karis' parents Joy and Glyn Frost, uncle Richard Frost, Mia's guardians Chris Hallam and Sarah Stennett and friends Sean Stennett and Duncan McCondach, they will be climbing Kinder Scout in Derbyshire on August 29.

So far they have raised £600 towards their £1,000 target. To support them visit www.justgiving.com/miascharityevent