My first time getting a tattoo was on my 21st birthday. I wanted it to be meaningful to me, and would represent me throughout life. I ended up deciding on a Christian Fish on my shoulder.
Twenty years later, I figured it was time for another one (or two). To follow the theme of it being deep and personal to me, my LOVE of anatomy, and the last 1.5 years of my life, I finally decided on my new tattoo.
BACKSTORY: I taught anatomy at the University of Oregon (in the cadaver lab) for almost 15 years. It is an experience I have greatly loved, even if other people find that strange. I have seen the most amazing amount of learning and discovery in the cadaver lab. When the cadaver first arrive, we only know very limited information about them. We know their biological sex, their age at death, as well as their cause of death (according to their death certificate). However, we have no idea what else their medical history entails, and we don’t discover things until we start dissecting. However, there are many medical conditions I feel we miss with each donor, simply because we don’t know to look for it. I want to continue my anatomy teaching even after I die, and want to donate my body to education. But, I have some cool anatomy/physiology and medical history that I don’t want students to miss.
So, I did a very “Jenni” thing, and I got a tattoo of my medical history.
- Four kids (and the years they were born).
- Multiple Sclerosis (neuron demyelination).
- Patent Foramen Ovale (hole in septum between right and left atria).
- Brain Tumor (the actual scan of my brain tumor before it was removed).
It is the most beautiful work of art I think I have ever seen. If you are in the Eugene/Springfield Oregon area, I HIGHLY recommend tattoo design by Ryan Bollinger from High Priestess!
Oh, and meet Hugo, the Robot! He’s been in my life since middle/high school, written on all my homework assignments and class notes.
