Scar From Surgery Makes Son Insecure, So Dad Gets Tattoo To Match
Mel Johnson
Son's Surgery Scar Made Him Feel Like A Monster
For Josh Marshall,
watching his son, Gabriel, suffer from brain cancer was painful enough. But hearing the 8-year-old boy say he felt like a monster after seeing the scar left by surgery simply crushed this loving dad. And what he did about it has gone viral!
Credit: Facebook / Josh Marshall
Battling brain cancer isn't easy. And seeing a kid have to fight this type of fight is downright heartbreaking.
RELATED: What this dad did for his dying son is amazing
But fortunately, little Gabriel has his whole family by his side, including his awesome dad, Josh.
Credit: Facebook / Josh Marshall
Gabriel suffers from a type of malignant tumor called
anaplastic astrocytoma, which required the boy to undergo brain surgery in order to remove the tumor.
Credit: Facebook / Josh Marshall
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The brave little warrior came out stable, but also bald and with a nasty scar on the right side of his head.
Credit: Facebook / Josh Marshall
“My son was very self-conscious after he got his surgery. He felt like a monster,” Josh says.
RELATED: Mother's plea to the people who stare at her little angel
The devoted dad wanted to do something to help boost Gabriel's self-esteem. So, he came up with a way to take the attention off of his son's scar. . . by getting one of his own!
Credit: Facebook / Josh Marshall
“I said, ‘You know what, I’ll get your scar tattooed. That way, if people want to stare at you, then they can stare at both of us,’” he explains.
Credit: Facebook / Josh Marshall
Josh's bold move had a bigger impact than he'd ever expected. Not only does Gabriel love the fact that he and his dad are "twins," but so does the Internet!
Josh entered the photo of him and Gabriel sporting their matching scars into the St. Baldrick Foundation’s #BestBaldDad competition. In it, photos were submitted by 55 dads who'd shaved their heads in order in support of their kids with cancer. The photo of Josh with his son received over 5,000 votes and clinched first place!
Credit: Facebook / Josh Marshall
And while he appreciated the win, the humble dad had this to
say:
"I would like to thank everyone for helping make this happen. It's an honor to be titled 2016's #BestBaldDad but the truth is I'm no better then any of the other contestants. We are all great father's that would go to any extent to help our children so in my eyes we're all winners!"
Since then, the story of Josh's tattoo has gone viral, and he
says he's just glad to be able to spread awareness for the childhood cancer community.
RELATED: How this champ is helping to support kids with cancer
What an incredible dad! Please keep little Gabriel in your prayers. He's doing well, and while the surgery wasn't able to remove the tumor completely, the small portion that remains has not grown. The little fighter goes for MRI scans once every 3 months, and we pray God's healing hand will keep this sweet boy healthy and happy.
Be sure to share this story, and remember that we have a perfect Heavenly Father who loves all of us!
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
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h/t:
Little Things
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