Large congenital nevi require ongoing medical monitoring because they can carry an increased risk of melanoma. Carol also worried about how strangers would react to Luna as she grew older. People sometimes stared, pointed or even asked whether the condition was contagious, experiences that made her determined to protect her daughter from the emotional impact of those reactions. 💔

In 2019, while Luna was still a baby, Carol took her from the United States to Russia to begin treatment. Doctors in Krasnodar used pH๏τodynamic therapy through multiple procedures to gradually treat the nevus.

But the journey did not end there.

As Luna grew, scarring and changes in her facial tissues meant that reconstructive procedures became necessary. In 2025 and 2026, doctors in St. Petersburg performed additional operations using tissue expanders, gradually creating healthier skin that could be used to reconstruct affected areas.

Then, on July 22, 2026, seven-year-old Luna underwent what her family described as the final major operation of this stage of her reconstruction. Smaller corrective procedures may still be needed as she grows, but the years-long medical journey has reached an important milestone. 🥹❤️

Throughout the process, Carol has shared Luna’s story publicly—the difficult procedures, the recovery periods and, just as importantly, the ordinary moments of childhood between them.

People around the world first noticed Luna because of the striking mark on her face.

But behind that mark has always been a little girl growing up, facing years of treatment with the love and support of her family. ❤️