Jake Bley’s mom, Nikki, passed away when he was 24 years old. She had leukemia, a form of cancer. At the time of her passing, Jake and his siblings each received their own box of things. These items were chosen by their mom, and they were specially chosen for each of them. Devastated by his loss, Jake didn’t open up the box immediately. In fact, it took him 10 years to take it home. But once he did, he quickly became inspired to get a tattoo in honor of his late mom.
There were a few items placed in Jake’s box, including about 20 handwritten diaries. These diaries go as far back as when Nikki was a child. But one of them was from the year Jake was born. Better yet, there is an entry from the very day that Jake was born. What she wrote that day was simple: “Only a little fellow.” But finding these words meant the world to Jake. So much so, he decided to get a tattoo with the sentence in his mom’s handwriting.
@jakebley TW: GRIEF. I know shes watching over me. #Tattoo #Grief #griefjourney ♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
So, on the 10th anniversary of Nikki’s death, Jake took a day off work so he could get his very first tattoo. He shared this moment online where it quickly went viral. Grief is something we can all understand, so seeing Jake honor a lost loved one in this way resonates with so many.
Man’s Very First Tattoo Honors His Late Mom a Decade After Her Death
Today marks 10 years since my mother passed away from leukemia. As a parting gift she gave each of her children a present. Mine was her diaries, hand written since she was a little girl. This is what she wrote the night I was born. It’s now my first tattoo. pic.twitter.com/VJFsHUyQ5o
— Jake (@jakebley) June 26, 2024
Now that Jake has so many people’s attention, he is sharing the best piece of advice his mother ever gave.
“There’s things that she said to me when she was alive, about there is a difference between being kind and being nice. Being nice there’s pageantries, being kind is deeper,” Jake shares. “You can say something to someone that they may not like hearing, but you’re being kind. It’s a lot more about intent. Kindness goes a lot further, kindness builds trust. And I trusted her wholeheartedly.”
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