Shannon Carbone

Connect What inspired your most recent tattoo?

I was a married stay at home mom for 20 years dealing with a mentally unstable, controlling husband. The PTSD and fear of leaving was unbearable. I finally had enough and pulled myself together. It has been a daily battle for survival mentally, physically, and financially. I now have a job that I love and people are envious of. My children are thriving. I am seeing a psychiatrist and healing. I am finally happy, and free.

If your ink could speak, what would it say?

My tattoo is not yet finished. My artist after a year has still not completed it. It is supposed to have hidden words coming out of the feather in how I'm the dark ink. Once it is done the true meaning of my tattoo is you can only see my damages if I show you. To look at me on the outside I look whole. But on the inside I hide my true emotions and am ready to move on with my life because I no longer fear the damage.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With the money I would complete my tattoo. Purchase a dependable vehicle since my ex-husband never followed court orders to sign over my vehicle and it just sits dead in my driveway. All while driving my daughter's car that I keep putting money into just to get to work everyday to support my children. Even though I would love to just cover my entire right side of my body with tattoos. I will get there slowly. One at a time.