Won’t insurance help?

No, not really. There are a couple of problems here.

First, our insurance only covers procedures performed within the preapproved network of phycisians. The policy is great when it comes to most routine procedures and the like, but we haven’t yet found someone within the network who we believe is capable of performing the excision with the expertise of the doctor we’re working with in New York.

Second, there’s a tendency to consider this type of procedure “cosmetic.” The studies regarding the links between congenital nevi and malignant melanoma aren’t decisive, and the ones that don’t turn are at least physically benign. However, we aren’t willing to play a wait-and-see game with our daughter’s health. Furthermore, we’re all too aware of the kinds of comments a little girl with a large facial birthmark can expect to hear growing up in our society. We’ll do anything we can to prevent the emotional scars as well as the physical ones.

UPDATE
After a change of employment and a corresponding change in coverage, our new insurance company IS covering part of the costs! That’s thanks in no small part to the people at the Seattle Children’s Hospital who, thankfully, not only know how to work with kids but also know a thing or two about getting insurance companies to actually insure needed procedures.