A loving couple from Grimsby in the UK decided that instead of an expensive dinner to celebrate mom’s 40th birthday, they would instead spend the cash on massive strawberry birthmark tattoos on their legs in support of their daughter, who was born with a real one.
The couple wanted to show their 18-month-old daughter, Honey-Rae, how much they love and accept her, even if she does look a bit different to other toddlers due to the strawberry rose birthmarks which cover her body.
Tanya, and her husband Adam both got the tattoos done, without hesitating.
Tanya told reporters, “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. It is bright red and it covers almost half of the right side of her body. It stretches from her toes to her lower back. It hasn’t faded with time. In fact some days, it looks darker than others.”
It really is an amazing thing to do, to support one’s child in this way. Despite some criticism and negative feedback, the reaction on the whole from friends has been positive.
In speaking about her daughter, who also has three other children, Tanya discussed the problematic birthmark.
“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. I just sobbed and sobbed knowing my baby was going to permanently marked for the rest of her life. Like any Mum I didn’t want her to be different. I wanted her to be exactly the same as every other healthy child. And as much as the birthmark isn’t dangerous I knew it could have a huge impact on the rest of her life.”
The idea for the tattoo came last summer, when Tanya was with her daughter, who was dressed in shorts and sandals.
“I was stood at a check out till, when I saw an old couple whispering and staring at Honey-Rae’s leg. I was distraught . It was first time I had taken her out without covering her up and it confirmed all my worries and fears. People are cruel without even realising,” she said.
With that, Tanya called Adam and the decision was made. If people are going to laugh at Honey-Rae, they can also laugh at her parents.
