A finalist of the hit reality show The Bachelor was left in tears after strangers mistook her baby's port wine stain for measles.
Shawntel Newton was stunned when her son Leo was born with a dark purple mark across the left side of his face, as well as a smaller patch on his right cheek.
Ms Newton, who made it to the final four of The Bachelor in 2010, has since learnt her now six-month-old has Sturge-Weber Syndrome, which causes abnormal blood vessels to develop in the skin.
The youngster, who is also at risk of seizures, had his first laser treatment at just five days old and requires medication to prevent fits that may lead to a stroke.
The 33-year-old, of Granite Bay, California, reveals how people staring at her son's birthmark often leaves her weeping.
Shawntel Newton, who was a finalist on the show The Bachelor (pictured left in a promotional shot), was left in tears after strangers mistook her baby's port wine stain for measles. Her son Leo (pictured together right) was born with a purple mark across the left side of his face
Pictured as a newborn, Leo has Sturge-Weber Syndrome, which causes abnormal blood vessels to develop in the skin, and also puts him at risk of developmental delay and seizures
Speaking of her son's condition, Ms Newton said: 'It can be a struggle when I am out with Leo after he has had laser treatment and people will stare and wonder what is on his face.
'The treatment makes his birthmark darker and there are red blotches on his face. One time I had someone ask me if he had the measles. I cried after that comment.
'I try and understand that to most people he does look a little different but it's hard on a mummy's heart to hear things like that.'
Ms Newton, who is also mother to two-year-old Anthony, gave birth to Leo via a scheduled C-section on October 18.
The reality star did well on The Bachelor with the season's love interest Brad Womack, but has since married Paolo Poidmore, a 38-year-old orthodontist.
Speaking of Leo's birth, she said: 'I heard the doctor say: "Oh my gosh, he has a very large birthmark on his face".
'I couldn't see him but my husband looked a little shocked. The nurses said it was a bruise.
'When they brought him over to me, half of his face was very purple. On the other side of his cheek there was another little patch.
'In my medicated and exhausted state, I didn't know how to process it.'
She made it to the top four with the show's love interest Brad Womack (pictured together)
Leo has red blotches over the left side of his face and a smaller patch on his right cheek (seen left). He is pictured right with his mother, father Paolo Poidmore and brother Anthony, two
The family (pictured over Christmas) are determined to 'instill confidence' in Leo
Leo was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome at just a few months old. This disorder can lead to developmental delays and glaucoma, which can result in blindness.
'The pediatrician told us to get specialists involved, and that our main concerns should be Leo's skin, eye and brain,' Ms Newton said.
'I felt really robbed of the newborn stage when you just want to be at home, breastfeeding, snuggling and connecting with your baby.
'Instead my husband was on the phone making call after call, finding a neurologist, ophthalmologist and dermatologist.'
Leo had his first appointment with a dermatologist at just five days old. 'They advised we start laser treatment immediately and he had his first session that day,' Ms Newton said.
'They kept encouraging me he was young and resilient and he wasn't going to remember the session - now was the time to treat him.'
Leo (left) was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber syndrome at just a few months old. He was then forced to endure preventative eye surgery. Pictured right after the operation, the procedure was necessary due to his syndrome putting him at a higher risk of glaucoma
Despite being exhausted from her recent C-section, Ms Newton attended her son's appointments but was advised it would be too upsetting for her to be in the
