Grieving aunt's heartbreaking tattoo tribute to nieces killed in house fire
A special tattoo will forever remind a grieving aunty of her nieces, sister and brother-in-law, who were all killed in a house fire.
Andrea Cortes says her "whole life fell apart" after she watched her sister's house burn to the ground, killing her sister Michelle Speer, her husband Michael and four girls, Elli, 11, Adilynn, 7, Emma, 5, and Anniston, 2.
Ms Cortes had desperately tried to save the family but couldn't get past the thick smoke.
The US woman was staying on her sister's property in a cottage house when tragedy struck.
According to American TV network WOWT-TV, the fire was caused by embers from a fireplace.
Autopsy reports indicate the cause of death for the six family members was smoke inhalation .
"Nobody ever realises that something like this could happen to them," Ms Cortes told Today Parents.
"Our family has always been close. My sister was my best friend and my rock, and she and Mike allowed me to be part of raising my nieces – I had a special bond with each of them."
Ms Cortes' tattoo is of the two oldest girls' handwriting and the youngest girl's drawings.
"To me, tattoos are an expression of your life and your passions, and it just felt right to have them on my body permanently," she said.
"I think it has helped me with the healing process to have these tattoos on my arm – I get to tell their story, share my memories with people, and keep them alive in a sense," she explained.
