In 2015, John Marshall received devastating news: his son Gabriel had been diagnosed with a ʀᴀʀᴇ ᴍᴀʟɪɢɴᴀɴᴛ ʙʀᴀɪɴ ᴛᴜᴍᴏʀ.
Despite treatments and operations, Gabriel would carry the scar with him for the rest of his life. Feeling self-conscious, Gabriel confessed to his dad that the scar made him feel like a “ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀ.”
Heartbroken, John made a decision to show solidarity with his son by getting a tattoo that replicated Gabriel’s scar.
The father entered a competition called #Bestbalddad, organized by the St. Baldrick Foundation. It is a competition where dads shave their heads in support of their children who have or have had ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ.
John sent in a picture that included his tattoo.
“Got my son’s scar tattooed to help his self confidence,” John wrote in his application. And it went straight to the jury’s heart. The picture won and has since been spread widely online.
The tattoo not only symbolized support but also boosted Gabriel’s confidence. Alison Sutton of the St. Baldrick Foundation noted the unique gesture, stating it was the first time they had seen a father go beyond shaving his head to build his child’s self-esteem.
John’s act of love and empathy serves as a heartwarming reminder of the lengths parents go to for their children’s well-being, even in the face of adversity.
