Andrea, age 3

When Andrea was just a half-hour old, I was nursing her for the first time, and I thought, "She’s really working hard. Her little face is so red." Then we found out she had a "port wine stain" across her left cheek, part of her right cheek, up across her eye and on her arms. She also has glaucoma, which often comes with facial port wine stains.

At the age of three, between laser treatments and glaucoma surgery, Andrea has been under anesthesia 25 times. Now the port wine stain on her face is about 80 percent gone.

We’ve been so grateful for everything our doctor and his staff have done. They really work to keep the trauma down for her. Andrea’s also had hospital surgeries, which are very different. In the hospital you feel you’re caught up in a huge system. You feel kind of helpless.

But at Plastic Surgery Associates, I’ve always been dazzled by their professionalism and concern. They always remember your name and what you talked about the last time. They call afterwards to see how Andrea is, and they send cards. They treat you like a person, like a friend.