In August 2015, Marshall made the decision to ink a tattoo resembling his son’s scar.
He expressed, ‘I’ll get your scar tattooed, so if people want to stare, they can stare at both of us.'”
After Gabriel Marshall, an eight-year-old, underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor, his father, Josh, shared that the resulting large scar made Gabriel feel self-conscious, describing it as making him feel like a “monster.”
Josh, age 28, mentioned that Gabriel refused to go out without covering his head, feeling as though people were constantly staring at him.
Wanting to boost Gabriel’s confidence, especially considering that his tumor had not shown signs of regrowth, Josh proposed getting a tattoo to match Gabriel’s scar.
Gabriel agreed, hoping it would lessen the attention he received. Josh recalls Gabriel’s excitement upon seeing the tattoo, noting his son’s appreciation for its realistic appearance.
With his father’s support, Gabriel came to embrace his scar, viewing it as a symbol of his strength against the tumor. Referring to it as his “battle scar,” Gabriel takes pride in it.
While doctors continue to monitor Gabriel’s condition closely, recent scans have shown no new tumor growth, though there is still some remaining tumor. They undergo MRIs every 6 to 12 weeks.
Josh entered the annual Best Bald Dad contest by St. Baldrick’s, a charity supporting childhood cancer, with their matching scars making headlines on June 13.
In the past, they had won a contest sponsored by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, with Josh expressing his hopes for Gabriel’s future and praising his son’s resilience.
Reflecting on their journey, Josh admires Gabriel’s strength, acknowledging how his son has become his source of strength in facing challenges they never expected to encounter.
