The tattoo I had a choice to get ! Done by Miami Ink Star Chris Nunez


I already told you about my first tattoo given to me by the girls at Radiation. If you don’t know about that you need to read my older post, My Very First Tattoo…not what I expected. Before the BIG C came into my life I was sure I would never ever get a tattoo. I didn’t have any moral objections to tattoos but they just weren’t for me. As I told you before I was given four tattoos, very small dots but tattoos none the less, in order to have my radiation.

When I finished my treatments I spent some time in Western Mass. recovering. As soon as I felt well enough to actually walk more than five feet I decided to fly back to Florida. This was a very trying time in my life. I just beat cancer, it was over! I thought my treatments would never end and to be honest I didn’t think I was going to survive my battle. When I got back to Florida I was so confused, lost and angry. I didn’t know what I was suppose to do now or who I was suppose to be. I had a very difficult time adjusting to life after cancer. As some of you may know when you are in treatments everyone is always swarming around you, caring for you, doing almost everything for you including bathing and feeding you. Now I was on my own. I hadn’t driven a car in about 6 months, I just started going to the bathroom on my own without the bags it was a crazy time.

After a lot of thought I decided I was going to write into the television show Miami Ink. I felt like I needed to do something with my new life and getting a tattoo seemed perfect. The Old Meaghan would never have gotten a tattoo. She was afraid of needles, afraid of permanency and concerned about what others would think. The old Meaghan was gone though. No matter what I did I could never get her back, Cancer took her. Who was the NEW Meaghan? This I could not tell you but I knew I needed to start figuring it out. I thought this was the perfect place to start.

I decided that if Miami Ink didn’t respond to my letter I wouldn’t get the tattoo. I figured going on the show would be the perfect way to share my story with the world! My second thought was, this tattoo will be on my body for the rest of my life so it better be good!! I got the call about two weeks after I wrote in. The producers loved my story and ask if I would be willing to drive to their office and do an interview to make sure they wanted me.

Well I said yes, of course. I drove down to South Beach and met with a producer who sat me down and started asking lots of questions. This was the first time someone, who I didn’t know, asked me about my experience. Telling my story was a lot easier than I had imagined it would be, it actually felt great! I wanted a lotus on my back around my scars. The lotus flower stands for the emergence of beauty out of ugliness. This sounded so perfect. My scars represented an ugly time in my life but I wasn’t going to let that continue. I was going to take control of this ugly thing that happened to me and turn it into something inspiring and beautiful. The producers hated it!! I was told the guys at Miami Ink absolutely would not do a lotus flower b/c it had been done too many times before. “Oh well” I said. My tattoo had meaning and I wasn’t about to compromise that for anyone so I left and told them to call me if they changed their minds.

I got a call an hour later, “well do it”. So that is how I got onto Miami Ink. The story about my experience filming the show is for another post but I will say it changed my life. The tattoo and the experience truly marked the birth of the new Meaghan. And, I love the NEW Meaghan! Sometimes I miss the Old Meaghan but I have those memories and will cherish them forever. New Meaghan, welcome to the world and start kicking butt!!

If you want to watch my episode you can purchase it off of I-Tunes for 1.99. I am in the second episode of season six. Sorry I don't have a Youtube of the episode, I'm not computer savvy enough to figure out how to do it :(

17 comments:

Miss A said...

I think I saw your episode! Is that where Chris said, "It's hard to tattoo over scars, but we try out best...."?

I'm going to have to look for it. I really liked your story and the tattoo is beautiful!

I want my first tattoo to be done by Kat Von D because of the black and white/grey work she does. I'm still deciding on what I want, but I'm pretty set on it.

Unknown said...

Hey- I think there is a way to get it on youtube if we download it from iTunes. I will look into it, my internet at home isn't hooked up yet b/c I just movied, but as soon as I get it hooked up, I will download and try to get it on youtube for ya!

Meaghan said...

Jenn:

OMG that would ROCK! I was so disappointed when my friend told me he had a friend do it! I thought it would just be on Youtube, what a bummer!

xoxo
Meaghan

Anonymous said...

The art work on your tattoo is amazing! Good choice indeed.

Anonymous said...

Your tatt is beautiful! Love the colors in it. I would like to get one, just haven't decided on what or where. My doc said a dog with a bowtie, to cover one of my scars. Another women got a zipper over he surgery scar. lol

Meaghan said...

I love the zipper idea, pretty unique! I love my tattoo but I never get to see it b/c its on my back!

xoxo
Meaghan

Obsessedwithlife said...

Cool post! If I got a tattoo, it'd be a dragonfly ;).

Rach

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Anonymous said...

I love your blog. It's really hitting close to home as I lost a longtime friend to cervical cancer in January. She was 28 with a 2 year old. I think the Stephanie Gregory Vasofsky Cervical Cancer Foundation is official now. She was an amazing woman.

The Alleged Ringleader said...

I think I saw this episode as well! Congrats on beating cancer! Your tattoo is gorgeous!

Karol said...

Beautiful tattoo!! That's awesome you got one done, that YOU wanted!! Your blog is awesome! Keep rockin' sister!

Ash said...

Even for us "old timers" thanks for creating this post with your links. I hadn't read this one before.

Beautiful tatoo! So glad the show reconsidered. What a bunch of poopie heads.

Em

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

I have a humungous crush on Chris Nunez, I am so jealous. AND, I have a lotus tattoo! Yours is beautiful.

Rains said...

I love Tattoo and thats why I am a big fan of Miami Ink TV Show. It is one of the best shows ever. All characters play their role very well and storyline is also good...

Anonymous said...

Nice tattoo and nice show. I love to Watch TV Shows Online. And this is a good show to watch.

Anonymous said...

it sometimes scares me but i would love to have one :)

I don't usually watch shows because that might change my mind.

I want a tattoo, me and my boy friend. I want it to be spacial so if ever we don't end up together, we can look on one memory that will be there lifetime.

I enjoyed your blog. It kind of scares me but I really want it. Thanks for the details

stacey
Angel Tattoos

Jessica Hart said...

I really want to make some kind of fairy tattoo on my back. And the tattoo which you have shared here is also good. Its good art and now it has become fashion among youngsters. I like this Miami Ink tv show too. And I Watch TV Shows Online.