Dad gets tattoo to match son's scar left by cancer surgery
The father of an eight-year-old cancer survivor has had a lifelike tattoo of a scar inked on the right side of his head, to match the one left on his son after life-threatening surgery.
Gabriel Marshall was diagnosed with anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare form of brain cancer, in March 2015.
The complex surgery left him with a large curved scar above his ear that left his self-confidence shattered.
“He felt like a monster,” Gabriel’s father, Josh Marshall, told ABC News.
“I said, ‘You know what, I’ll get your scar tattooed. That way, if people want to stare at you, then they can stare at both of us.’”
Mr Marshall took a photograph with his son, both of them proudly displaying their matching scars, are entered it into a competition based around children with cancer.
The St Baldric Foundation’s #BestBaldDad competition features photos from more than 50 fathers who had shaved their heads in support of their child.
Alongside Mr Marshall’s touching entry was the caption: “Me and my son at this year’s St. Baldrick’s event in Wichita, Kansas. Got my son’s scar tattooed to help his self-confidence.”
The picture gained won first place and has since gone viral, making headlines in publication across the globe.
“It’s amazing,” he said of the attention the photo has received.
“I’m glad that I can kind of spread awareness for the childhood cancer community.”
Mr Marshall told ABC News Gabriel is recovering well. A small portion of the tumour remains, and is being closely monitored to check for any growth.
News break – June 22
