A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Matthew 5:30 Tattoo Made Reality

I posted a couple of these photos to Zentastic when I got home from the hospital last night, but I thought I’d post the full set here. As you know, last year I found out that I had a bone tumor in my right leg just below the knee that was starting to affect my mobility as well as having caused about twenty years of chronic pain. After the biopsy was done, I had Chino tattoo Matthew 5:30 in script above it to help me deal with it —

Matthew 5:30    And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

I find that “physicalizing the way I’m feeling” helps me to deal with things that are emotionally or intellectually upsetting to me, I think because it makes them tangible in a way that gives me symbols to think about them with, even though of course nothing has really changed. That said, I’m also a bit of a narcissit, haha, so one of the things I was really hoping was that I’d be able to get a surgical photo of this tattoo during the procedure of removing the tumor, because it was so appropriate. Anyway, the doctors were kind enough to snap a number of great photos of the procedure!

That’s an after photo; here are a few others from the procedure:

Everything seems to be healing really well by the way, although it’s just been a few days.

Comments

222 responses to “Matthew 5:30 Tattoo Made Reality”

  1. Kelli Avatar
    Kelli

    That’s terrifying. I love it.

  2. Kelli Avatar
    Kelli

    That’s terrifying. I love it.

  3. John Avatar

    As I was reading modblog I started remembering that you were suppose to have surgery, then poof there is a post about your biopsy.

    Glad to here that your doing well. Take care.

  4. John Avatar

    As I was reading modblog I started remembering that you were suppose to have surgery, then poof there is a post about your biopsy.

    Glad to here that your doing well. Take care.

  5. fantasien Avatar

    nyummmm surgical fleshies. thanks for sharing! heal up 😛

  6. fantasien Avatar

    nyummmm surgical fleshies. thanks for sharing! heal up 😛

  7. FNKYMNKY Avatar

    Well how about that for hardcore mod?

    Heal well dood!

  8. FNKYMNKY Avatar

    Well how about that for hardcore mod?

    Heal well dood!

  9. Malice Alice Avatar

    Looks like everything went well 🙂 I hope you get well soon!

  10. Malice Alice Avatar

    Looks like everything went well 🙂 I hope you get well soon!

  11. GotPierced Avatar

    Get well soon, dude. I’m glad you’re okay so far 🙂

  12. GotPierced Avatar

    Get well soon, dude. I’m glad you’re okay so far 🙂

  13. gillian gamine Avatar

    oh my jesus, those pictures were intense. hope you’re doing beautifully!

  14. gillian gamine Avatar

    oh my jesus, those pictures were intense. hope you’re doing beautifully!

  15. Renee Avatar

    Wicked that they took photos for you.

    So glad you are out and healing well. You have been (and will continue to be) in my thoughts.

  16. Renee Avatar

    Wicked that they took photos for you.

    So glad you are out and healing well. You have been (and will continue to be) in my thoughts.

  17. sarah schizm Avatar

    😐 glad everything went ok

  18. sarah schizm Avatar

    😐 glad everything went ok

  19. socialcoma Avatar
    socialcoma

    Hope you’re feeling much better Shannon…. Did they shave your leg before the procedure? It looks like they have not which is a bit of a concern to me due to the possibility of infection.

  20. socialcoma Avatar
    socialcoma

    Hope you’re feeling much better Shannon…. Did they shave your leg before the procedure? It looks like they have not which is a bit of a concern to me due to the possibility of infection.

  21. deadly nay Avatar
    deadly nay

    crap….glad its gone now….hopfully the pain is also.

  22. deadly nay Avatar
    deadly nay

    crap….glad its gone now….hopfully the pain is also.

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