Laser Focused on Patient Care

Generous gift from the Jeanne and Richard Kaskey Foundation helps 2-year-old Ivy and her family find expert care for rare birthmark close to home

When their daughter, Ivy, was born, Daniel and Nicole Shaw of Breinigsville thought that the mark on her right cheek was a bruise that resulted from mom’s long labor. But at Ivy’s first pediatrician visit, the Shaws learned that Ivy had a rare type of genetic birthmark, a port wine capillary malformation, that thickens and darkens with age.

Roughly 1 in every 330 babies is born with a port wine birthmark, which can occur anywhere on the body. When the birthmark is located on the face, it can cause a rare condition called Sturge-Weber syndrome, marked by complications like glaucoma and seizures. Treating capillary malformations early in life is the best way to prevent Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Previously, children like Ivy needed to travel outside the Lehigh Valley to receive high-quality care for rare birthmarks. Now, however, Ivy receives laser treatments locally at the Birthmark Center at St. Luke’s, which was established in 2025 through a generous donation from The Jeanne and Richard Kaskey Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to invest in transformative education and pioneering medical advancements—fueling innovation, accelerating discovery and expanding access to care worldwide.

“With support from The Jeanne and Richard Kaskey Foundation, St. Luke’s has evolved to become a national leader for these types of complex pediatric and adult laser surgeries,” says Andrew C. Krakowski, MD, the Founding Network Chair of St Luke’s Department of Dermatology and lead point of contact for the Birthmark Center.

Bringing World-Class Care to Local Families

Earlier this year, St. Luke’s became the first and only healthcare provider in the Lehigh Valley, and one of 27 worldwide, to be inducted into the Sturge-Weber Foundation (SWF) Clinical Care Network.

The Sturge-Weber Foundation’s global mission is to improve the quality of life and care for people with Sturge-Weber syndrome and associated port wine capillary malformations through ongoing collaboration with clinical partners and pioneers, education, advocacy, research, and patient and family support.

“Having a dedicated team close to home means families have clear direction, trusted care and no longer feel alone in their journeys,” says Julia Terrell, the Director of Community Relations for the Sturge-Weber Foundation and the parent of a child with Sturge-Weber syndrome. “That warms my heart.”

Expert Birthmark Care for Kids and Adults

The Birthmark Center at St. Luke’s is led by Dr. Krakowski, known as “Dr. K” to his patients. An internationally recognized leader in treating port wine birthmarks and associated vascular malformations, Dr. K is the only board-certified pediatric dermatologist in the Lehigh Valley, representing one of more than 40 pediatric specialties available through St Luke’s Children’s Hospital.

Inside the Birthmark Center, adults and children receive comprehensive care led by a fully integrated team of experts across specialties, including:

• Ophthalmologists who monitor and treat Sturge-Weber syndrome-related glaucoma
• Neurologists who manage seizure activity and neurodevelopmental milestones
• Radiologists skilled in using advanced neuroimaging to monitor vascular changes
• Plastic surgeons and ear, nose and throat specialists who provide reconstructive support for structural complications arising from vascular malformations

“Being named a Clinical Care Network site is a testament to the tireless effort and clinical expertise that the multidisciplinary St Luke’s team offers our local Lehigh Valley community and regionally across eastern Pennsylvania,” Dr. K says.

Ivy’s Smiles Tell the Story

For the Shaws, receiving care locally has made all the difference. Ivy started receiving laser treatments to remove her birthmark at 8 months and has received 17 treatments thus far. “We wanted to start this as early and often as possible to mitigate the growth of the blood vessels, because it’s a mutation that will get more permanent over time,” Daniel Shaw told The Morning Call.

Today, Ivy is a happy, healthy 2-year-old. The treatments have significantly reduced the color and thickness of her birthmark. And mom and dad can both rest easily knowing that the care she receives now may prevent her from developing serious health complications later in life.