In this amazing tale of the power of social media, Mark Cropp, a young guy from New Zealand, found himself at a crossroads after serving a two-year, three-month sentence for a failed heroin trade.
Desperate for a fresh start upon his release, Mark made a decision in prison that would profoundly impact his life.
One night in his detention cell, under the influence of homemade whiskey made from fermented apples, bread, and sugar, Mark and his brother made a decision that would transform their lives.
The facial tattoo
They decided to tattoo Mark’s name on his face while he was dazed using a homemade ink made from toothpaste and melted plastic knives and forks. Later, the massive black tattoo that emerged—clearly spelling “Devast8” across his jaw and lower face—would come to symbolize regret.
Mark had to face the harsh reality of unemployment after being released from prison. Even though he wanted to reintegrate into society, his massive facial tattoo was making it almost impossible for him to provide for his partner and little daughter.
Despite his prior work experience, Mark was unable to get employment since the obvious ink turned off potential employers right away.
“You know, there was a long time there where I would destroy everything I touched,” Mark told the Daily Mail Australia when he discussed the meaning of the tattoo. I would end up destroying everyone I interacted with or grew close to.
“I kept hearing ‘that’s devastating,'” he continued. They would feel let down by whatever I said or did. There was no going back once I got going, I thought. In all honesty, he said, “I wish I had stopped when the outline was there.”
Before I knew it, I had this expression on my face. It was inflated like a bloody pumpkin, he said.
Mark searched desperately for a means to have the tattoo removed, but he was unable to do so because of a shortage of professionals who were prepared to work with him and financial constraints. Laser removal, the most feasible alternative, was costly and necessitated several treatments. After that, Mark turned to social media for help.
By sharing a selfie of himself with his distinctive tattoo on Facebook, Mark appealed for a job and a new beginning. His earnest plea quickly gained popularity on the network and attracted the interest of the staff of Auckland’s Sacred Tattoo tattoo studio.
New beginnings
After being affected by Mark’s story and recognizing an opportunity to positively impact others, Sacred Tattoo decided to carry out an incredible act of charity. The tattoo business, which is well-known for its commitment to the community, provided free laser removal treatments to help Mark get rid of the “Devast8” tattoo on his face.
This generous gesture from Sacred Tattoo demonstrated the transformative power of social media in addition to the impact of compassion.
Mark also found employment with a scaffolding company, PR Contracting, where he earned $22 per hour.
What are your thoughts on this story? Do you think everyone deserves a second chance at life? Let us know in the comments section below!
