A New Jersey father is making headlines after honoring his baby son in an unforgettable way — by tattooing the child’s heart surgery scars onto his own chest.
Eric Conklin, 36, and his wife Cristina, 35, welcomed their son Bennett last October. What began as a fairytale love story and dream life together soon took an unexpected turn when, midway through pregnancy, doctors diagnosed their baby with pulmonary atresia — a congenital heart defect where the pulmonary valve fails to form properly.
Bennett was rushed to New York City’s Mt. Sinai Hospital immediately after birth, undergoing procedures within days of arriving in the world. At just 10 days old, he suffered cardiac arrest and was placed on life support. After six intense days on an ECMO machine, he survived his first open-heart surgery at only two weeks old. A second successful surgery followed five months later, with another operation expected in early childhood.
Through it all, Eric stood by his son’s side — and decided to wear his strength on his own body. On August 26, nearly 11 months after Bennett’s birth, he had a tattoo inked across his chest mirroring the scars his son now bears.
“I want to wear what he wears,” Eric explained. “When he grows up, I want him to look at me and know that Daddy has what he has. It’s my way of saying — I’m in this with you.”
Cristina admits it was heartbreaking to see their infant’s scars, but she supported her husband’s powerful gesture. For Eric, the tattoo isn’t just a tribute — it symbolizes the emotional scars their family carries together, and the strength they’ve found in unity.
Today, Bennett is thriving — a cheerful, giggling baby who lights up their home. Doctors are pleased with his progress, and his parents say they want other families facing similar challenges to know they aren’t alone
For Eric, what once felt like luck now feels like destiny. “The universe knew this little boy was coming, and it prepared us to take care of him,” he said.
