“My Tattoo Artist Was Shaking & Crying. I Looked at Him with Complete Shock & Utter Disbelief”: Grieving Mom Discovers Tattoo Artist Has Unique Connection to Her Lost Twins

Three weeks before her scheduled c-section, I started showing symptoms of preeclampsia and was admitted to the hospital. With blood pressures of 191/98, my c-section date kept getting moved up. They gave me steroid shots to accelerate her lung development and finally, almost 2 weeks after being in the hospital, my doc said it was time.

Leti and James arrived via c-section at 36 weeks on the evening of February 12, 2019, 5lbs 11oz. Hearing her cry was the biggest relief I’ve had in my entire life. My mother was in the OR with me and kept telling me how perfect she was. She brought her over to me and I couldn’t believe I was looking at the most perfect angel that ever existed.

She had 2 little birthmarks on her forehead that looked like footprints. To me, they are her brother’s stamp. His little note that he is watching over her and will always be with her.

The hospital chaplain was also in the OR talking to me about James and that she would do everything in her power to get photos of him and bring him to me later that evening. Leti’s sweet cries made it easier to deal with the loss of him until he was brought into the recovery room a few hours later. A flood of emotion and memories of Bucky and Nori came to the forefront of my mind. The tears wouldn’t stop flowing.

Unfortunately, she was unable to get photos because he had deteriorated on one side and was completely flat. I wanted to honor him like I did with my other twins and tattoo his footprints on my wrist next to his siblings, but I was unable to. But I got to see him, touch him, and say goodbye. I knew I had to re-focus on my beautiful daughter and my grief for him was not over. I knew I had to honor James somehow.

Through a friend, I got into contact with a photographer named Jessica. I was very excited about documenting Leti’s arrival into this world. I told Jessica my story and she emailed back saying, ‘I have a wonderful idea for how to honor James.’

Honestly, I hadn’t put much thought into what her idea would be. When I arrived and saw what she had set up, I lost it. She placed Leti in her place and she couldn’t stop looking over to where her brother would have been had he survived. I couldn’t help but feel he was lying right there, letting her know he was present and will always be with her. She smiled countless times while looking in his direction.

This photo means the world to me. I will cherish it forever. I can’t wait to tell Leti the story of how she came to be. I can’t wait for her to grow up so I can tell her that her sister and brothers are flying over her, watching her day and night.”

**This story was written by Heather Bowman of St. Louis, Missouri. See more from her on Facebook.