Tiger and faded roses
Tiger and faded roses
The tattoo represents the pain she shows externally vs the pain she feels internally. The rose is her birth flower but the pink water and faded areas of colour represent feeling left behind by friends, family and society, due to not being able to work (Lauren used to be a nurse) or being part of regular social groups, along with people not understanding the condition or wanting to bother her. However, she is always in pain and would still like to be included and considered instead of isolated and forgotten.
This tattoo story shows how not all disabilities are visible and it’s important to be empathetic and understanding in our daily lives as you never know what someone is going through.
Remember it’s cool to be kind, perhaps the next time you are out spark the conversation with someone, it might make their day!
Have you dealt with an injury of your own which left you feeling isolated, how did you face it? are there any groups and activities you’ve tried to feel less isolated?
Tattoo - Tiger and faded roses
Thanks to Lauren for sharing her tattoo story✨ (and the photo)
On July 15th 2021 Lauren was driving on the A1 northbound, slowed and stopped due to roadworks and a broken down vehicle up ahead, when she was hit by a lorry still driving at 60mph. The lorry driver hit 2 cars behind her and sadly the three people and a dog died.
Thankfully Lauren survived but now lives with a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), the worst/highest pain score known to medicine which is so rare often consultants have limited knowledge, unless they specialise in it.
At present, there is no known treatment for CRPS or cure.
She is now disabled and suffers pain like walking on a fracture every day without a fracture being present as following her injury that is partly no longer there (besides fat necrosis in the area of my lower leg which is painful to touch, also rare and the CRSP).