A New Zealand dad made sure his young daughter would never have to feel different because of her cochlear implant — and his touching gesture ended up reaching millions of people.

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Alistair Campbell decided to shave his head and have a cochlear implant tattooed behind his ear, matching the device worn by his six-year-old daughter Charlotte.

It was a permanent show of support inspired by the huge changes Charlotte had already experienced in her young life.

Charlotte was born profoundly deaf and received her first cochlear implant at the age of four.

The implant went on to have a major impact on her quality of life, with her mother explaining that Charlotte transformed from a child who did not talk to anybody into being “pretty much a social butterfly,”

When Charlotte later returned to receive her second cochlear implant, Alistair wanted to do something for his daughter.

His solution was simple, emotional and impossible to miss once he had shaved his head.

Alistair had the image of a cochlear implant tattooed onto the side of his head, positioning the design behind his ear to match Charlotte’s device.

He explained that he wanted to show his daughter that he was willing to experience a little pain for her as well.

For the dad, however, the reason behind the tattoo ultimately came down to one thing.

“[I did it for] my love for her, really. My hair can grow back.”

Charlotte’s reaction made the gesture even sweeter.

After seeing her dad’s new tattoo, she “giggled” and thought it was “cool.”

The image of father and daughter together quickly went viral, with Alistair’s shaved head revealing the tattoo alongside Charlotte and her cochlear implant.

But the tattoo was never intended to be about gaining attention.

For Alistair, it was a symbol of his support and a reminder to Charlotte that she would not have to face life’s challenges by herself.

He planned to allow his hair to grow back over the tattoo but was more than willing to shave his head again whenever Charlotte wanted to see it.

The significance of Charlotte’s cochlear implants was clear to the family, particularly after watching the difference they made to her life.

Alistair told Buzzfeed: “It has changed her life being given the gift of sound.”

His decision to get the matching tattoo soon touched people far beyond his own family.

The heartfelt gesture became a powerful example of the lengths a parent can go to help their child feel comfortable and supported.

For Charlotte, it meant looking at her dad and seeing someone willing to stand beside her in a very visible way.

For Alistair, a shaved head and a tattoo were a small price to pay.

His hair could grow back.

The message to his daughter was designed to last much longer.

Featured image credit: Facebook / Alistair Campbell / 2ears4nixon