The lengths some parents go to to make their children belong and feel loved is heartwarming and so incredibly inspiring. Which is why this story is too good to pass up. Here’s to ending your week on a high note!
On Tanya Phillips’ 40th birthday, her and her husband, Adam Phillips, decided to do something special. It wasn’t a fancy dinner at a restaurant or big birthday party — instead, they decided to hit the tattoo parlour to get matching tattoos that resemble their young daughter’s birthmark.
According to The Mirror, their toddler Honey-Rae was born with a birthmark that continues to grow as she gets older. The “strawberry rose birthmark” which is a result of the medical complications she experienced when she was born, now occupies almost half her body.
“She’s struggled to breathe when she was first born and was rushed to the special care unit. When I went to see her she was just lying in a little incubator and that’s when I saw it. It broke my heart,” Tanya said. “I just sobbed and sobbed knowing my baby was going to permanently marked for the rest of her life.”
And unfortunately, the birthmark wasn’t the worst part. When Honey-Rae would expose it in public, Tanya says people (aka grown “ADULTS”) would point, stare and give cruel reactions towards her 18-month-old little girl.
“I knew if adults could be that insensitive, then kids at school would also be unintentionally mean,” Tanya continued. This is where the idea to get matching tattoos sparked from.
As the ultimate act of love and in celebration of their young daughter, Tanya and her husband Adam decided to get matching tattoos of their daughter’s birthmark so she could always feel like she belongs.
“Most people might think it’s very extreme but to us it was the natural thing to do to ensure our daughter never felt different or alone in the world,” Tanya added. Now this lovely trio is linked together not only with unconditional love, but a beautiful pink birthmark as well. And the best part? Honey-Rae absolutely loves it.
“When the swelling went down, I showed Honey-Rae, and she gently touched it and smiled as she said “Match”, pointing to her own leg… If I’d have needed any reassurance that I’d made the right decision that was it… She now constantly touches mine and Adam’s tattoos then her own birthmark and giggles – I couldn’t be happier.”
Seriously, are you crying yet?
Leave a Reply