Laurie Szymik

What inspired your most recent tattoo?

My recent tattoos are inspired from my strength of going forward and not hiding away not giving up showing my children that no matter what you go through you can still show love and empathy along the way , along with strength and willingness to not give up

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

It would tell of a girl who was kept captive in her family home so no one knew the secrets my family kept ,a father who prayed upon his children sexually mentally physically, a mother who turned a blind eye to the abuse , homelessness, being sent to live in another state , abuse , raped , neglect , beaten , being disemboweled, a single mom of 4 . Raising two boys alone , worked 3 jobs to pay bills and make sure my kids never knew what I felt growing up. A story of a fighter

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use part for a vacation, I am 47 and my only vacation was recently for my daughter's wedding, and I'd love to have a real vacation . I'd go clothing shopping because last year I had 3 surgeries in a 5 month spand that left me in mobile for more than a year , help my youngest son with college, help my oldest son with his wedding