Elephants and Tea - December 2022 - 34

Tattoos SYMBOLS OF STRENGTH
Our Tattoos:
A Tribute to Cancer
BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE AYA TEAM AT COOK CHILDREN'S
BY EMMANUEL TERRELL
M
BY ABRIL MURILLO
I
34
was born in Mexico, but moved to Texas when I was
little. Just before starting my senior year of high
school, I was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic
leukemia. During chemo, I struggled with not being
able to do the things I wanted, but my family and
friends were a great support system. I love traveling
and going to new places, and I now have my own small business.
Getting my tattoos was important to me because they
represented my experience with cancer. The tattoos are a
reminder of what I went through and how grateful I am to
be alive. They remind me of all the things I have learned,
the amazing people I met, and the way everything fell into
place; even though the journey was long. These tattoos are a
symbol of how strong I am; I am a survivor. Unfortunately,
my mom passed away from lymphoma when I was eight. She
was my best friend and I love her very much. In a way, I feel
like these tattoos also represent my mom and everything she
went through; she is my inspiration. I am grateful I have these
tattoos because they are a symbol for everything in my life
that means so much to me.
ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
DECEMBER 2022
y name is Emmanuel, and I am from Texas. I
was diagnosed with osteosarcoma on April
22, 2020. My long journey with cancer has
included three different chemos; so far the
third one seems to be working. A few of my
hobbies consist of hanging out with friends,
playing basketball, playing video games, and just enjoying the company
of other people and getting back out in the world.
My first tattoo, the one on my left upper arm, was dedicated to my
cancer journey and helped me visualize what I had gone through.
The image is of a butterfly that has lost its color (my diagnosis) before
slowly gaining its full colors back (when I learned I was cancer
free on January 13, 2021).
This tattoo is a tribute to what I went through and has helped me
cope with the trauma of my situation in an artistic way.
My second tattoo is also tied to my cancer journey. Located
on my lower arm is a depiction of me and half an astronaut. It
symbolizes that although I don't know what will happen in life,
I still need to attack the unknown. This tattoo also displays my
prosthetic leg, and has helped me feel more comfortable with it. I
am sometimes ashamed of it, but this is a symbol of who I am and
what I can become.
http://www.ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
Elephants and Tea - December 2022

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