InkedMag
  • Articles
    • Top Stories
    • Culture
    • Art
    • Music
    • Digital Cover
    • Events
  • Shop
    • Subscriptions
    • InkedShop
  • Tattoo Shops
  • INKED COVER GIRL
  • Company
    • About
    • Contact
    • SUBSCRIPTION
    • Newsletter
    • Media Kit
  • Policies
    • DMCA
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
InkedMag
  • Top Stories
  • Culture
  • Art
  • Music
  • Events
  • Store
  • Digital Cover
  • INKED COVER GIRL
  • Tattoo Shops

Newsletter

Inked newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Next Steps: Sync an Email Add-On

InkedMag

Inked Mag Staff

June 22nd, 2016

Share Now
0
0
0

The #BestBaldDad Gets Tattoo To Match Son’s Brain Tumor Scar

Gabriel, an eight-year-old battling cancer, has the #bestbalddad who shows unconditional love and support in the hardest of times. Kansas-based Josh Marshall watched his son undergo surgery in an effort to remove…

Gabriel, an eight-year-old battling cancer, has the #bestbalddad who shows unconditional love and support in the hardest of times. Kansas-based Josh Marshall watched his son undergo surgery in an effort to remove a large tumor from his head, leaving an enormous scar. To remind Gabriel he was not alone, weird or different, the 28-year-old dad tattooed a matching scar on his head.

Gabriel was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumor, anaplastic astrocytomarare. Even after surgery, the eight-year-old still has some of the tumor left in his skull but according to BuzzFeed News, is “stable” and has been off treatment for nine months. The remaining scar left Gabriel feeling like a “monster.” One could understand why an eight-year-old would feel this way, with society and what not. Marshall told BuzzFeed that his son’s damaged confidence broke his heart, “I told him if people wanted to stare, they could stare at both of us.” (Tattooed people understand this unwanted staring from passersby.)

Marshall’s tattoo, done by Merl Kent of Point Black Tattoo, is a beautiful replica of Gabriel’s warrior scar. It was inked in August 2015, but he entered a father/son photo to St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s #BestBaldDad competition on Father’s Day (June 19, 2016). The #BestBaldDad competition highlights dads who have shaved their heads in unity with their child who’s cancer treatments are leaving them bald. Marshall’s entry went viral and won with 5,000+ votes. He captioned the photo submission, “Me and my son at this year’s St. Baldrick’s event in Wichita, Kansas. Got my son’s scar tattooed to help his self confidence.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by St. Baldrick's Foundation (@stbaldricks)

Alison Sutton, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s social media manager told Buzzfeed that Marshall’s entry was “the first time we’ve seen an entry where a dad went above and beyond shaving his head in solidarity with his child and got a tattoo to build his son’s self-confidence.”

To read more touching stories about parents who have used ink to boost their child’s confidence, click here.

Editor's Picks

Celebrities
Black Music Month 2025: Celebrating Tattooed Icons, Inked Culture, and Timeless Soundtracks

Celebrate Black Music Month with tattooed icons like Lil Wayne, Rihanna, and Beyoncé—where ink, music, and culture come together in powerful expression.

Gift Guide
Barrel Proof & Ink Approved: Our Picks for National Bourbon Day

Dive into a curated guide built for bourbon lovers who live life ink-first, featuring bold bottles and glassware with grit.

Art
Top 10 Friday the 13th Tattoos That Celebrate Jason Voorhees’ Iconic Legacy

Slash into spooky season with these Friday the 13th tattoos honoring Jason Voorhees and the eerie legacy of Camp Crystal Lake. Ink with a killer vibe.

More From Art

Top 10 Friday the 13th Tattoos That Celebrate Jason Voorhees’ Iconic Legacy
June 13, 2025
Lilo & Stitch Live-Action Release Inspires These Heartfelt ‘Ohana’ Tattoos
May 29, 2025
Musical Ephemera
April 30, 2025
New Color-Changing Tattoo Ink Lets Your Tattoo Show Your Mood!
April 1, 2025
Podcasting by Design
February 5, 2025

Recommended For You

Artist Spotlight
The Masterful Markus Klinko
Events
Ink on the Riviera: Tattoos Take the Spotlight at Cannes 2025
Artist Spotlight
Reka Nyari – Body Language
Art
Musical Ephemera
InkedMagCover
InkedMag

QUICK LINKS

  • Top Stories
  • Culture
  • Art
  • Music
  • Events
  • Store
  • Tattoo Shops
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • SUBSCRIPTION
  • INKED COVER GIRL
  • MEDIA KIT
  • DMCA
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS & CONDITIONS

Input your search keywords and press Enter.