[DiamondSmiles]

I wasn't sure where to put this.

WPVI
Matt Deicke

July 16, 2014

Following the loss of his infant daughter, Sophia, a mourning father took to Reddit to ask the community for a single, heartbreaking request:

"Photoshop Request: My daughter recently passed away after a long battle in the children's hospital. Since she was in the hospital her whole life we never were able to get a photo without all her tubes. Can someone remove the tubes from this photo?"

The community response was overwhelmingly supportive, and many talented artists volunteered to give this father the beautiful portrait of Sophia he never had the chance to take.

Photos below. One of Nathen Steffel with daughter, Sophia.

*Update*

The Internet Delivers in Spades When Father Asks For Retouched Photo of His Baby

by Lisa Arneill
Amazing Baby Stories

July 16, 2014

For parents of medically fragile children, one wish is to see their baby free of their breathing/feeding tubes. But, for one dad, that day didn’t come.

Nathen Steffel’s daughter Sophia was born May 30 and lived just six weeks. She passed away from complications from a hepatic hemangioma, a liver tumor, he shared on Reddit.

During her short time here on Earth, the baby was always connected to life support. But, her parents' dream was to see her free of the machines that surrounded her during her brief life.

On Reddit, a popular social media site, he asked the internet to help him.

“Since she was in the hospital her whole life, we never were able to get a photo without all her tubes. Can someone remove the tubes from this photo?”

But, what happened was truly amazing. Not only did the incredible people of the internet respond, but, they created many beautiful pictures that the family will cherish forever.

Touched, Nathen told today.com,

“I didn’t really want all the publicity, I just wanted a picture. What I received was a whole lot of love and support from complete strangers.”

Both he and his wife knew from the start, the baby may have issues after the first ultrasound, but, didn’t realize how serious the situation was.

After she was born, Sophia split her time between Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, where she was on a waiting list for a liver when she passed away July 10.

Following his request, many retouched photos of his baby were submitted to the family.

When Nathen showed some of the photos to his wife, she teared up, he wrote.

“I was overwhelmed with the response I got,” he told TODAY Parents. “My wife and I were so grateful so many people took the time out of their own lives to either send a nice message of sympathy or an awesome drawing. They couldn’t have made this father any happier.”

[LadyCPlum]

Touching and heartbreaking.

[Kelseecat65]

Normally this shit does not bother me, but wow, those eyes.
How heartbreaking

[DiamondSmiles]

I know some of us are softies, especially where babies are concerned.

The father was overwhelmed.

I don't know how to edit photos either.

The colors/editing, as you can see, really make a big difference in the photos.

Beautiful baby.

I wonder why the mother wasn't photographed, (for public view anyway).

Dad looks so proud! <3

[vagabond]

Wow- restores some of my dwindling faith in mankind.

[wee_yumi]

Can I have the dad?

[Johnny Wadd]

Originally Posted by vagabond ↗

Wow- restores some of my dwindling faith in mankind.

Agreed..............poor little sweetheart

[kellyhound]

glad he got what he wanted with help from the internet people

[candice81]

Heartbreaking..

[DiamondSmiles]

Originally Posted by wee_yumi ↗

Can I have the dad?

OK with me, but, there is a wife.

Not judging. ;)

I was always ok with being the one they were cheating with than the one they were cheating on.

That is between them.