A dad had his daughter’s heart surgery scar tattooed on his chest so she doesn’t feel alone.
David Hopper and wife Kelly were devastated when Charli was born with three holes in her heart.
But after open-heart surgery at just 12 weeks old the brave girl, now 11, made a complete recovery.
The life-saving op gave her a “zip” scar down the centre of her chest.
Worried that she may become self-conscious about it, loving David, 40, decided to get the mark as a tattoo to keep her company.
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The dad, from Consett, Co Durham, said: “I got it for me and for Charli so she’s not alone.
“It’s very realistic. I love it when people say to me ‘have you had surgery?’ It’s achieved what it was meant to. Charli is not by herself.
“Charli’s scar is not something that should be hidden away.
Charli held David’s hand in the tattoo parlour and the pair chose not to look at it until they got home. Kelly, 42, and Charli’s brother Dylan, 15, were there when they took off the bandage at home.
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Charli said: “My mam says my scar is like a medal of what I have been through. I’m really happy because I like the fact I’m not the only one with the scar.”
Her mum said: “Charli thought everyone had a scar. I didn’t think we would have to explain that wasn’t the case.
“Since Charli was very young David always said that he was going to get a tattoo of her scar so she wouldn’t be the only one.
“She loves that he has got it. I can’t even say how proud I am, they’re amazing the pair of them.”
