Everly "Evie" Backe, who was born with "a critical, complex congenital heart defect," was just 3 days old when she had her first open-heart surgery in August 2017, her mother Lauren Backe. After open-heart surgery, many people experience personality and mood changes. Butterflies are signs of transformation, and this tattoo certainly lives up to that expectation. This site is not intended to provide, and does not constitute, medical, health, legal, financial or other professional advice. "Evie wanted to be in a dance recital and she got to be a penguin in 'The Nutcracker' in December, so we just hope that the things that she wants to do, she's able to," she said. ", "I heard Evie make mention about the zipper, just asking more questions than usual," he told "Good Morning America." While your wounds are closed at this stage, your scarred skin is hyper-sensitive and certainly shouldnt be tattooed at this moment. If the tattoo will be far away from the surgery site, a tattoo is generally considered safe; however, we recommend getting the surgery first and getting the tattoo after youve healed from the surgery. However, the cheeky little 4-year-old also did what kids do best, as her mom explained to People: While she was thrilled that she had someone just like her, in true Evie fashion she started to tease him a bit. "While she was thrilled that she had someone just like her, in true Evie fashion she started to tease him a bit. After three open-heart surgeries, I have to say they are many things that I wish they wouldve warned me about during my surgeries. In general, doctors recommend allowing yourself at least six to eight weeks to recover from surgery. Surviving an Open-Heart Surgery Surgery tattoos are powerful symbols that remind us of our strength and resilience after surgery. You, however, absolutely never ever under any circumstances get to skip the blo. They do this by fighting the infection and keeping bacteria clear from the area. 30 Tattoo Designs for Your Scars By Team Sortra It is true that scars are the best tattoos. In August 2017, little 3-day-old Everly Evie Backe underwent her first open-heart surgery due to her critical, complex congenital heart defect, as her mom Lauren explained to People. The very next day after 'little fighter' Joey was discharged from hospital, Martin decided to have the heart surgery scar tattooed on his own chest as a show of fatherly solidarity. After getting a tattoo, the outer layer of skin (the part you can see) will typically heal within 2 to 3 weeks While it may look and feel healed, and you may be tempted to slow down on the aftercare, it can take as long as 6 months for the skin below a tattoo to truly heal. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". 73 These abstract blue pine cone tattoos cover up scarring on the arms. Some of the best zipper tattoo designs include: 3D Feathered Zipper, Butterfly and Flower Zipper, Colorful Zipper Rose, Skull with Zippers and Gears, Winged Heart Zipper and Tribal Zipper. Open Heart jewellery is most often associated with love, passion and adoration For many, open heart necklaces signify opening the pendant receivers heart, meaning they receive the givers love and affection. 13 No belly button after a surgical procedure? The ride home from the hospital after open-heart surgery will be hard. Scar tissue will not heal and hold tattoo ink in the same way as unscarred skin tissue. If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or reach the Crisis Text Line by texting START to 741741. Do open heart surgery scars go away? 20 This raised scar became the body of a colorful blue and purple butterfly. You also have to consider that most reputable tattoo shops will not tattoo you if you are currently taking medications. 11 People request tattoos to cover scars on their legs to feel self-assured enough to show their legs. The family, which also includes Everlys 9-year-old brother, Jack, rarely ventures far from their Crystal Lake, Illinois, home to create a COVID-19-safe bubble. All rights Reserved. Its caused a lot of chronic pain but working with physical therapy has helped me regain strength. Its much more likely that ink will fade, blur, or blowout in scar tissue, since the underlying skin structure that typically holds ink has been damaged. This feline and flowers theme covers a large area beautifully. If you were put on bypass, it can cause these issues. "But we were grateful that they taught us so much that we could also be at home.". Rushing into a tattoo would be a grave mistake for your recovery. So this person dealt with those marks with a unique scar tattoo idea. Can You Get A Tattoo While Taking Aspirin Or blood thinning medication? Post-surgery, your body is in a very vulnerable state as it works to heal the wound and fight off infection in the area. 38 Dont let a scar on top of the foot keep you from wearing your favorite sandals! (. "He said that he didn't want her to feel alone," she recalls. You should avoid strenuous exercise, such as swimming, jogging, biking, bowling, tennis and golf for three months after surgery. Ordinarily, the answer is yes. Black Heart Tattoo The heart symbol is often associated with love and passion, but a black heart tattoo can also represent death and grief This ink can be a fantastic way to honor the passing of a loved one or serve as a reminder of heartbreak or personal loss. But you can also tattoo right over them , as is commonly done with mastectomy scars, as long as they're healed first. Scars from invasive heart procedures like open-heart surgery are highly noticeable and will remain with an individual for life. If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources. Dad's reaction to daughter passing bar exam goes viral, New report details alarming health impact of climate change on children, Couple shares journey of going from infertility to adoption, Single dad adopts 13-year-old who was abandoned 2 years earlier at hospital, Dad builds space for immunocompromised kids to safely play, Man loses 129 pounds to be able to run with his twin sons: 'Ive given my kids the dad they deserve', MORE: Dad walking 1,200 miles to fund research for daughter's treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge, MORE: Parents name baby boy after doctor who treated mom for COVID-19. And when Matt Backe got home with his tattoo, it inspired his wife, Lauren, to get her first tattoo. When she's not working on one of her many writing projects, you will find Deborah working in her garden or advocating for the community gardening movement to help end hunger. They remind you the hard times you managed to get over and how strong you are now. Chest pillows can help you when you sleep, sneeze, and cough; they have has many uses. But you can also tattoo right over them , as is commonly done with mastectomy scars, as long as they're healed first. During February, American Heart Month, the family has been helping schools kick off the Try to find comfortable sports bras you can unclasp or undershirts. A tattoo artist took advantage of this raised scar. This article is provided with the understanding that it does not constitute medical or professional advice or services. Heart Surgery Left Painful Scars . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. A tall, elegant iris creates the perfect shape to follow the scarred pattern and the shading and intense colors trick the eye to make the marks disappear. Matt Backe, a commercial insurance salesperson, said he finds it very odd to see himself shirtless in photos on social media and in news stories, but keeps telling himself its all for congenital heart defect awareness. Can You Get a Tattoo Over a Surgery Scar? She now thinks the tattoo is "neat" and has been comparing it to her own scar. 12 Not only can artists create interesting tattoos for scars, but they can also cover up stretch marks after weight gain or pregnancy. 7 A tummy tuck or c-section delivery can leave a long mark on the belly. For women, your period can be affected by the surgery. These scars are best worked into the edges of a tattoo to minimize their appearance. But I remember nothing tasted good. https://www.healthline.com/health/body-modification/tattoo-over-scar My thought was as she grows older, I imagine shes only going to become even more self-aware, so it was just try to help her not feel like she was the only person who had it just something so she didnt feel alone.. Get this feminine symbol and place it on your chest or your collarbone. I could really relate to this,'" said Lauren Backe. The design looks pretty amazing as it adds to the whole form. Completely "out of the blue" last year, Lauren says her husband told her that he was interested in getting a tattoo in honor of their daughter. Sometimes medications can be the cause of hair loss. Matt Backe shows off his new tattoo, a rendition of an open-heart surgical scar, just like the scar that his 4-year-old daughter, Everly, has. . After both of them, I experienced depression, anxiety and PTSD. The heart symbol is often considered as a happy, passionate, as well as loving tattoo, literally! Religious symbol tattoos for scars remain very popular. https://www.matchingmissions.com/blog/2018/2/6/the-zipper-scar-story, https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/crystal-lake-dad-gets-tattoo-of-daughters-open-heart-surgery-zipper-scar/2746095/, https://www.healthline.com/health/body-modification/tattoo-over-scar, https://www.today.com/health/health/dad-tattoo-daughter-heart-surgery-scar-rcna17321, https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/dad-tattoo-chest-match-year-daughters-heart-surgeries-82725761. However, the color of your chosen heart can represent several different things. Not so much when it appears on the top of the hand! Your periods can become irregular, heavy, lighter, or more painful. Shes in heart failure, which doctors are trying to manage with medication, so she gets more tired than other kids, needs more rest and experiences facial swelling. It didnt feel great, but it pales in comparison to what Everly has gone through., The girls first comment when she saw the tattoo was, Dad, why are you copying me? Lauren Backe recalled. A father's love landed him in the tattoo parlor, where he requested a 3.5-inch scar to be inked on his chest so that he could match his 6-year-old son's, who had life-saving heart surgery las "It really makes me happy that they look the same," he said of Everly having a "zipper buddy" in their dad. Movie theme tattoos to cover scars might be one of the most fun ideas! Once youre released from the hospital, it usually takes six to eight weeks for your breastbone and chest muscles to heal as you return, gradually, to a normal daily routine. 34 Burn victims have lifelong visual reminders of their injuries. "We've been quite honestly blown away by all of the people reaching out and all of the support.". Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. You can find countless tattoo ideas online for scar tattoo cover-ups that transform scarring into masterpieces. I try really hard not to think about how long shell live, because I think theres a really good chance that there will be more technological and scientific improvements to improve her life span, she said. "We've had a lot of people [with congenital heart defects] reach out and say, 'I had a scar growing up, and I used to cross my arms when I was at the pool because I was self-conscious about it. Strong magnetic fields turn pacemakers off, by design. 43 On the other hand, a monochromatic floral pattern offers equally elegant coverage. NBC 5's Chris Hush. The design may include flowers, roses or other elements. While they will become less pronounced over time, such scars will not simply disappear Nonetheless, secondary procedures can be used to help remove or reduce the appearance of the scar. Everly said of her dad's tattoo, "He didn't want me to be alone. It's "a little daily reminder to be grateful for all the things that I've been through," she said. A father has had a tattoo inked on his chest in tribute to the scar his son sustained during life-saving heart surgery. Lauren tells PEOPLE that her family is grateful for both "the surgeries that exist to help" her daughter and "how far heart research and technology has come.". Zipper is what small children call their open-heart surgery scars We honor all those little hearts during Februarys heart month and are excited to share our client, Healthy NewsWorks Hearty Kids project which is promoting heart health awareness for students in kindergarten through second grade. Brighter days ahead, as reflected in the primary colors of this geometric scar tattoo. Sometimes shell ask why she has it and other people dont, and then shell remind herself, I have a special heart. We try to use the word special instead of sick so it frames it a little more positively for her.. One day last month, Matt went in to make the appointment and due to a COVID-19-related opening, he was able to get the tattoo on the spot. Everly Backe, who was born with a congenital heart defect, was just 3 days old when she had her first open-heart surgery. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.