Parents tattoo legs to match daughter's birthmark and make her feel less alone

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Tattoos can mean many things to different people. These parents got tattooed to help their child feel less alone in the world.

Adam and Tanya Phillips' new ink matches the birthmark on their 18-month-old daughter Honey-Rae, which covers the right side of her body — from her toes to her lower back.

The couple, who reside in Grimsby, England, went under the needle to make sure Honey-Rae wouldn't feel unconfortable with her large birthmark as she grew up.

"Most people might think it’s very extreme," Tanya told the Mirror. "But to us, it was the natural thing to do to ensure our daughter never felt different or alone in the world."

Honey-Rae was born with the mark on her leg, and Tanya noticed it wasn't fading or shrinking.

"She’s struggled to breathe when she was first born and was rushed to the special care unit," Tanya told the Mirror. "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."

Last summer, while shopping with Honey-Rae, Tanya noticed an older couple whispering to one another and starring at her daughter's leg.

"[My husband and I] had talked about having duplicate tattoos done for a little while, but that day, my mind was made up," Tanya added. "People are cruel without even realizing."