Birthmarks that connect: Nanée Emmerich tells her touching story

Birthmarks that connect: Nanée Emmerich tells her touching story

Over 200 stories worth telling: This is the number behind the NDR program campaign “UNITED in the North”. Since the call for applications began in April of this year, numerous people have submitted their personal experiences, and today, June 15, 2025, Hamburg resident Nanée Emmerich will take a seat on the Red Sofa as part of this project.

49-year-old Nanée has a rare pigmentation disorder known as Congenital Melanocytic Nevi (CMN). This disease is manifested by large birthmarks, numerous moles and scars. In a moving retrospective, she describes her childhood with the words: “I was the girl in the turtleneck in 30-degree weather, and I thought I was alone.” Her story is not only an account of her life with CMN, but also a call for greater understanding and acceptance.

What does CMN mean?

As the medical literature states, Congenital Melanocytic Nevi are pigmented lesions that appear in the womb as a result of melanocyte proliferation and are found in about 1% of all newborns. These nevi are classified depending on their size: from small, under 1.5 cm, to giant nevi, which can reach 40 cm or more. There is an increased risk of melanoma and neurocutaneous melanocytosis, particularly in larger nevi, which requires regular clinical monitoring. More information can be found in the source pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Medical care often includes monitoring, and in many cases removal is sought to avoid psychosocial problems. Deciding which form of treatment is best depends on various factors, including the size of the nevus and the individual needs of the patient. The psychological effects of CMN often have a major impact on the lives of those affected, and a lot of educational work is required through media work like that of Nanée Emmerich.

Insight into production

The stories that are told as part of “UNITED in the North” should also be made accessible to society. Experienced experts are involved in this project: Miriam Rumohr is responsible for production, while Stephanie Barrenberg takes over the editorial management. Together they have the goal of creating a platform on which individual experiences can become visible.

The popularity of “UNITED in the North” shows how important and relevant such stories are. They offer those affected the opportunity not only to share their challenges, but also to promote broader acceptance. In challenging times, this can change the way we view diseases like CMN and help increase understanding of one another.

So we can look forward to what Nanée Emmerich has to say about the Red Sofa. Your journey is one of many, and each one we get to know brings us a little closer together.