Every parent knows that they'd do absolutely anything for their kids. But this viral post resurfacing on social media shows a physical dedication like no other in the form of 30 hours of grueling tattoo work.
Derek Prue Jr., now 14, was born with a pretty unique birthmark. Now, most people have them, but Derek's is a little more noticeable than others. That's because it covers a pretty large area of the left side of his chest.
And that's something that really made him self-conscious, even leading him to want to wear a T-shirt while swimming. As his dad put it in an interview with CBS News, "I saw how he was reacting" to people bullying him about it.
Of course, he couldn't let that stand. But he didn't want to try and remove it from him - after all, that's his body! So, in a show of solidarity, he instead got to work at a tattoo parlor, getting a replica on his skin too. At the time, Derek Jr. was only 8 years old - meaning this was something that'd make or break his teenage years.
And it took 30 hours. "I remember the first time coming in, laying down and then after maybe three, four hours, I was like, 'Yeah, are we almost done?' And [the tattoo artist]'s like, 'Yeah, we're almost done with the outline.'"
Dad Spent 30 Hours Getting a Tattoo To Match His Son’s Birthmark—and the Reason Why Will Make You Tear Up
The tattoo took 30 grueling hours to complete, but the dad didn't mind. Commenters on social media loved how heartwarming this was!
We hope that Derek and his son are doing well, and that this heartwarming tattoo helped him gain confidence in his body!
