A man has honored his late mother by getting a tattoo of a diary entry she wrote on the day he was born. Jake Bley, who lost his mother, Nikki Bley, to leukemia at age 24, decided to commemorate her memory with this personal tribute.
In an interview with “Good Morning America,” Jake Bley shared that his mother had left each of her children a box of personal items before she passed away. Jake, now 34, recently revisited the box for the first time since her death.
Inside, he found around 20 of his mother’s handwritten diaries, including one from the year he was born. Jake recalled finding a note in the diary from the day of his birth that read, “Only a little fellow.”
He described his mother as a sentimental person who likely intended for him to find and cherish such memories.
Jake decided to mark the anniversary of his mother’s death by getting a tattoo of the diary entry. He took time off work to get the tattoo, which he considered a gift from his mother.
Jake documented the tattooing process and shared his story on social media. His post, which includes photos of the diary entry and the tattoo, received significant attention, with over 7 million views and numerous likes.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Jake said. “Many people reached out, sharing their own experiences with grief.”
Opening up about his loss has become part of Jake’s healing journey. He noted that connecting with others who have experienced similar losses has been comforting.
Jake believes his mother would be proud of his efforts to help others and his personal growth. He also shared one of her key pieces of advice: to be kind rather than merely nice.
“She taught me that kindness is deeper and more meaningful than just being nice,” Jake explained. “Kindness is about intent and builds trust, something she exemplified throughout her life.”