Nevus Outreach, Inc.
CMN Ambassador Lilian
Nevus Outreach / 2025 A-Team
CMN is not as a result of something someone did to themselves or the parents did. Anybody can be born with it. Support us by spreading this awareness or contributing towards medical support for individuals living with CMN,NCM or other related conditions.
About CMN Ambassador Lilian
Some kids at school would shout in front of me "Don’t get close to her, she might infect you." I could put on sweaters and long-sleeves all day long just to avoid the stares and mind you i come from a very region of Kenya so you can imagine how i struggled with the hot weather.
All along i kept asking myself many questions including "why me" yet i come from a very big family-the eighth born out of ten siblings and I am the only one with this mark. My self-esteem was badly affected back then, but thank God right now my smile is as bright as a diamond.
My mother faced all the questions from both innocent and malicious people. Others speculated that she was the cause of my mark! They had all sorts of beliefs that she used to take too much chillies or even burnt me with hot tea when she was carrying me, allow me to laugh about this one🤣🤣🤣... Just to mention but a few!
The worst of it all was being told that i was an "outcast." Anyway, I won't judge them, they only lacked knowledge.
In my university days there was a contest for Mr. & Miss. KU(Kenyatta University). My friends kept pushing me to join the contest believing I could win. I highly doubted myself as i could see my CMN as my point of failure. I gathered the courage and joined the trainings but in my day three I gave up. I compared myself to the other gorgeous girls and their skin looked so flawless, I quit immediately believing there was no way i could outshine them with my visible difference.
After school I really wanted to work as an air hostess, I always admired the beautiful hostesses. When the time came for me to make an application for the post, one of the mandatory requirements was you should not have a visible mark and that’s how my dream of being a cabin crew got shattered.
I always thank God for my beautiful strong woman (mum) who chose to ignore all the fake advices and stood with me encouraging me every other time, thank you Mum!
Today I see my mark as a blessing in disguise!!!
Truly, God always has a good reason for everything!
Have been able to overcome all and even do a research about the same only to find out it's a condition called Congenital Melanocytic Nevus. I started an awareness campaign for this and so far I have connected with a good number of people in Kenya and abroad who have the same. It's been so fulfilling to even see myself helping fellow CMN patients regain their self worth and feel a sense of belonging.
If you would like more information about CMN please visit nevus.org