Therapy Ink :: behind the ink

ERIN KUNZEN
Meet our close friend, loyal Therapy Ink customer and hero, Erin Kunzen. In her own words, Erin explains some of her most meaningful tattoos and the symbolism behind each one: 

In order to understand some of my tattoos you need to know the background on how they came to be. My name is Erin and looking at me you would never know that I am sick and you would never know that I almost died. I have Cystic Fibrosis (CF), which is a fatal genetic disease that has an average lifespan of 37 years old. I am 29. It damages the lungs and digestive system- more specifically the pancreas and how the body absorbs nutrition. I battled chronic acute pancreatitis (which is rare in CF) for several years, but in 2008 it was decided to remove my pancreas for a chance at a better life. The result of that surgery was horrific. I became severely septic and was that way for almost a week before it was caught. I spent 6 weeks in a coma, on a ventilator, with my abdomen wide open because the infection was so severe I couldn't be closed. The doctors flat out said I wasn't going to make it and instructed my husband, family, and friends to come say their goodbyes. Clearly they were wrong. However, once I was closed they placed an ileostomy and trached me because I couldn't breathe without the ventilator. It was a long road with a lot more surgeries to correct the mistakes from the original surgery. My life will never be the same and I will never recover fully. These tattoos have helped me express what I went through and will go through.

"Amor tussisque non celantur" by Ovid- Means “Love and a cough, are not concealed.” Coughing is a major part of Cystic Fibrosis. This quote is something that my very first and best friend CF friend, Jenny, wanted to get together. We weren't able to get it because she went through a double lung transplant and then went into rejection that ultimately killed her.

Phoenix  This was the first tattoo I had done after beating death. I love the symbolism of the Phoenix, which is that the it has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again. I came through the fire and feel like I've been given a second chance.

Sugar Skull  The origin of the sugar skull is through Mexico's Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It is a candy treat offered as a tribute to the memory and life of someone who has passed away. It's bright and colorful, as it represents joy, happiness, and memories treasured. I have faced death personally, but I've also faced it with the friends I've lost to Cystic Fibrosis. I wanted a positive tribute to them and myself. My sugar skull has roses for the eyes, which is a symbol of CF. It's also known as 65 Roses- a name given by children unable to pronounce Cystic Fibrosis. I added a quote by the Joker from The Dark Knight that says, “What doesn't kill you, simply makes you stranger.” It's my way of adding some dark humor.

“Don't go gently into the night, but keep on fighting as the light dies.”  This is a part of song lyrics by the band Seether, based off of a poem by Dylan Thomas. As soon as I heard the song I knew immediately that I wanted to add it to my fairy sitting on the moon. I have faced the dark night and I kept fighting and I will continue to keep fighting. I think everyone can relate to this at some point in their life.