When Winry was born, Nicole Hall recalls an emotional moment: instead of the expected newborn’s quiet calm, she noticed a large, dark patch of skin covering part of her daughter’s head and face. Initially mistaken for a bruise, the mark turned out to be a congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN)—a birth‑mark formed by a cluster of pigment‑producing cells present at birth or shortly thereafter. While uncommon, CMN affect an estimated 1% of newborns for small‑ to medium‑sized lesions and far fewer for large or giant types.

Nicole and her husband chose not to view the birth‑mark as a problem, but as a beautiful part of Winry’s individuality. Though the patch covers a visible area of her face and head, Nicole describes Winry as “the happiest baby you’ll ever meet” — full of energy and laughter, and the mark simply part of who she is. Parenting a child with CMN often involves both medical awareness and emotional support: though many cases never present major health risks, larger or multiple lesions can carry greater concerns.

CMN are categorized by size and are frequently monitored by dermatologists. Most small or medium lesions carry a low medical risk, while larger (“giant”) CMN are associated with slightly increased risks of complications such as melanoma or neurocutaneous melanosis (a rare condition affecting the brain and skin). For children like Winry, routine skin checks, sun protection (SPF 30+ broad‑spectrum, protective clothing) and family education are often the primary steps.

Beyond medical care, Nicole emphasizes the importance of representation and awareness. She shares photos of Winry, and of their life together, on social media so that other families with visible differences feel less isolated. “If even one family feels less alone because they see Winry’s story,” Nicole says, “then sharing it is worth it.” Above all, she hopes that Winry grows up truly knowing that she is beautiful—just as she is.