Now my son is with me forever
GRIEVING dad David Bennett only held his baby once before he died due to complications at just 27 days old.
Heartbroken, he stayed strong for his wife and other children but would cry alone. Now he has little William captured in the most amazing tattoo on his back so son and daddy can be together forever. He is now showing his masterpiece to the world.
“I hope William is looking down and saying ‘Daddy did that for me,’” said David, who is known as Benny, of Backworth, North Tyneside.
“It took 45 hours or more to complete. It was painful but I would not change anything. It is amazing and every time I look at it I just say wow.”
Benny’s wife Katherine had four miscarriages before baby William died on November 30, 2015 and the pair were faced with having to register their son’s birth and death on the same day.
At the time the pair, who have five other children with each other – twins Joshua and Stephanie, 12, Cameron, 10, Hannah, eight and 22-month-old Alexander – described William as their ‘miracle boy’ after losing four other babies. However, William suffered a double bubble, which is where his bowel was not joining his stomach.
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He also had a hole in his heart and had Down’s syndrome.
At one day old, William underwent an operation on his bowel but then another problem on a heart valve was discovered and he was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary for immediate heart surgery.
The operation was booked for December 4 but William lost his battle the day before he was due his operation. Delivery driver Benny, 51, who has another two children, Kayleigh, 30, and Daniel, 26, added: “My tattoo shows Katherine holding Alex and the other children around her looking up at William in the sky.
“They are on the beach and the colours are beautiful purples and look fantastic. There are also four stars for the four we have lost. My tattoo was done by Kayley Henderson and she has captured William’s likeness so well.
“She did him with his eyes closed because he has passed away.”
Benny added: “I had to be strong for Katherine but I would be in tears on my own and wondering what William would be like. This tattoo was for me and in a way has given me closure. I know William is with me and I have all of them with me, all of the time now.”
Tattoo artist Kayley, 29, who runs Masamune Tattoos in Whickham, Gateshead, said: “Benny’s story really touched me.”