7 year old boy cried for 45 minutes when he saw his surgery scars. The internet responds:

[Liberal_in_LA]

Carter Gentle of Farmington, Maine, has endured five surgeries for his congenital heart defect. After Carter’s most recent surgery to repair a pacemaker, the 7-year-old boy looked in the mirror at his scars and cried.

Carter’s father, country singer, Mark Gentle, wanted to lift his son’s spirits and turned to his fans on Facebook for help. He posted a photo showing Carter’s scars and asked, “How many likes can Carter get for his bravery?!”

His full post read:

#CHDAWARENESS We were a little apprehensive to post this but I feel it’s important. Carter took his bandages off this morning. He cried for 45 minutes when he saw his scars. He said that he’s afraid people will think he is ugly. This was hard to hear as a parent. We told him that his scars are beautiful and make him look like a superhero. How many likes can Carter get for his bravery?! Feel free to share. #CartersSong #HeartHeroes #CHD



The response was more than the father ever imagined and the image of Carter showing off his scar-covered chest now has over 1 million likes. Hundreds of thousands of people beyond his Facebook fans responded and both Buzz Feed and Today Parents picked up the story.

“He went down to the bathroom to look in the mirror and he just started sobbing. He said, ‘People are going to think I’m ugly. My scars look horrible.’ As a parent, it just tears your heart out. As much as that kid’s been through, the last thing I ever want him to worry about is scars,” Mark told Today Parents.

http://blog.sfgate.com/sfmoms/2015/04/14/dad-asks-facebook-to-tell-his-son-surgery-scars-are-beautiful/

[yeoman6987]

1. My computer is very blurry

Going to Facebook ASAP!

[RedCappedBandit]

2. Hopefully this kid will grow up to be proud of his scars

His experiences will give him perspective and insight few others will share.

[JanMichael]

3. once he ages and starts working out and filling in his scars will be a big plus.

It will just make him look tough like a pirate. He will be fine. And if he goes all skinny look it will still give him a character on top of everything else. He will look sensitive and deep.

Again he will be fine.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

12. I was going to say I know a 5 year old pirate who would pay top dollar for those scars.

My nephew.

[JaneyVee]

4. That kid is adorable and his scars will make him positively unique.

[narnian60]

17. +1000

[cui bono]

8. What a great sentiment to make a kid, or anyone else, feel better about their appearance.

Please refrain from going to FB to "unlike" his pic.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. thanks for chasing him/her off

[cui bono]

13. Well I appreciate that they had sense enough to delete it.

Plus, the reality is that those scars are not bad at all compared to a lot of what is out there. Not to diminish the boy's feelings because I know for him it is a real fear, but look at burn victims, injured vets, etc...

[Catherine Vincent]

6. Aww...bless this little child

[Jefferson23]

7. Over a million likes..awesome when people get it to help a little kid. K&R

[jwirr]

10. My great grand children have seen my scars - I told them that they are my railroad tracks. This

dad did a wonderful thing for his little boy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Take my word kid

someday, you will not give a fuck about those scars. I just hope there are no internal ones though.

[yourout]

14. All I see is a nice young man.

[demigoddess]

15. My dad had a big scar on his face, but you never noticed it

it was his personality that shone through. And scars fade. I have a few, hardly noticeable now.

[Archae]

16. Tell him "Bones heal, bruises fade and chicks love scars."