Mark Cropp, a young guy from New Zealand, was serving a two-year, three-month sentence for an unsuccessful drug deal when he found himself at a crossroads in this gripping story about the power of social media.
Mark, desperate for a fresh start after serving his term, made a decision that would have a big impact on his life while inside.
Mark and his brother made a life-changing decision one night sitting in their jail cell, drunk on homemade whiskey made from fermented apples, bread, and sugar.
The face tattoo
In a trance, they decided to tattoo Mark’s moniker on his face with melted plastic knives and forks and toothpaste as improvised ink.
The resulting enormous black tattoo, which grew to symbolize grief over time, boldly scrawled “Devast8” across his lower face and jaw.
Mark had to face the harsh reality of unemployment after finishing his time in prison.
Despite his wish to support his fiancée and young kid and reintegrate into society, he quickly learned that his massive face tattoo made this extremely difficult.
Mark had previously worked, but the evident ink turned off potential employers, thus he was unable to find work.
“You know, there was a time when I would destroy everything I touched. “I’d end up destroying everyone I met or got close to,” Mark stated to the Daily Mail Australia about the tattoo’s meaning.
“They would be disappointed with something I had done or said – I was always hearing ‘that’s devastating,’” he continued. I realized I couldn’t go back on it once it was started. ‘To be honest, I wish I had stopped while the outline was still there,’ he remarked.
“I got this on my face before I realized it… “It was as swollen as a bloody pumpkin,” he explained.
Mark was anxious for a way out and looked into tattoo removal, but he couldn’t find any willing professionals or the money to accomplish it.
Laser removal, the most practical method, required numerous sessions and was fairly expensive. Mark then turned to social media for help.
Mark shared a selfie of himself on Facebook, displaying his distinctive tattoo and appealing for job and a new beginning.
His earnest request quickly gathered traction on the network and got the attention of the staff at Auckland’s Sacred Tattoo.
New beginnings
Because Mark’s tale had moved them and they felt they had the potential to contribute, Sacred Tattoo decided to perform a stunning act of generosity.
The tattoo studio, known for its community service, provided Mark with free laser removal treatments in order to remove the “Devast8” tattoo on his face.
This generous effort by Sacred Tattoo demonstrated the power of compassion while also demonstrating the transforming potential of social media.
Mark was also able to get work with PR Contracting, a scaffolding company, where he was paid $22 per hour.
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