C: Maman, “I feel like it was meant to be”

C has a tattoo on her forearm in memory of her mother. The design of the tattoo features forget-me-not and lily-of-the-valley flowers alongside “Maman” in cursive writing. C explains that her “mother’s favourite and birth month flower was the lily-of-the-valley. I decided to add forget-me-nots and the word ‘Maman’ as a way to say, ‘I will not forget you Mom.’”

Shortly after her mother’s passing, C was contacted by a tattoo artist who, while expressing their condolences, offered to do a memorial tattoo. C saw this as a sign from her mother. She explained: “I feel like it was meant to be. I hadn’t talked with anyone about looking for a tattoo artist, and I wasn’t having much luck finding one at the time. When I got contacted by my artist and we scheduled for the day before the funeral, it felt almost as if my mother was sending me a sign and it felt comforting.”

Since getting this tattoo, C considers the tattoo an integral part to her grieving process. She explains: “When I had it done, everything felt very raw, in my emotions. Looking at the tattoo now, almost a year later, makes me realize how far I am in my grief and healing process.”