www.inkedmag.com/original-news/tarahuna-tattoomodel
I'm Tarah Una. I lost my arm to cancer at the young age of 25. Losing my arm would be the first of many long battels with cancer through a span of 7 years. I've been through more surgeries and chemo therapy than most, but I'm a survivor through and through! I had a rare type of soft tissue cancer called synovial cell sarcoma that was originally found in the bursa sack of my left elbow joint, the devastation of the diagnosis was to amputate immediately, what a double punch it was to hear I not only had cancer, but I had to have limb sparing surgery asap as well. I was a massage therapist at the time so that was the third punch, was learning I had to lose not only my arm but also my career! But That did not stop me!! I went on to have the surgery and re-start to life over as an above elbow amputee. My first lesson came to me as soon as I awoke from surgery, my hospital gown had to be tied to stay on, so I used that time in my hospital bed to learn how to tie knots with one hand, at that moment my fighter spirit came alive! I could either succumb to the I cant, I wont or I WILL!! I sat in that hospital bed until I learned how to tie a perfect bow with one hand! Its some thing I will never forget! Throughout the years I've hit many road blocks with life as many of us do, but I have chosen to rise to the occasion again and again. My cancer would unfortunately return, this time in the soft tissue of my lungs, I went through multiple surgeries, a collapsed lung and a plural effusion to correct the burst lung. I had to undergo a total of 3 lung drainage tubes, a port-to-cath surgery and 6 months of grueling Chemotherapy for 5 hours a day 5 days week. I had a 24hour chemo pump I had to wear 24/7 for 6 months, sleeping with it attached to me was rough, it went everywhere I did. But everyday I awoke telling myself it was another I'd never have to go through! Since ALL of my battles, I have learned to surf, ride a bike, bolder scramble, rope descend all with one hand. My proudest accomplishments are Being hired by the US Military teaching our Marines life saving limb saving technics, traveling the world as a published model, and performing with world famous bands like Janes Addiction. This is my Story, thank you for reading! And NEVER give up on yourself, you've got so much more to live for!! follow my public instgram here https://www.instagram.com/tarah_una_dollparts
I'm Tarah Una. I lost my arm to cancer at the young age of 25. Losing my arm would be the first of many long battels with cancer through a span of 7 years. I've been through more surgeries and chemo therapy than most, but I'm a survivor through and through! I had a rare type of soft tissue cancer called synovial cell sarcoma that was originally found in the bursa sack of my left elbow joint, the devastation of the diagnosis was to amputate immediately, what a double punch it was to hear I not only had cancer, but I had to have limb sparing surgery asap as well. I was a massage therapist at the time so that was the third punch, was learning I had to lose not only my arm but also my career! But That did not stop me!! I went on to have the surgery and re-start to life over as an above elbow amputee. My first lesson came to me as soon as I awoke from surgery, my hospital gown had to be tied to stay on, so I used that time in my hospital bed to learn how to tie knots with one hand, at that moment my fighter spirit came alive! I could either succumb to the I cant, I wont or I WILL!! I sat in that hospital bed until I learned how to tie a perfect bow with one hand! Its some thing I will never forget! Throughout the years I've hit many road blocks with life as many of us do, but I have chosen to rise to the occasion again and again. My cancer would unfortunately return, this time in the soft tissue of my lungs, I went through multiple surgeries, a collapsed lung and a plural effusion to correct the burst lung. I had to undergo a total of 3 lung drainage tubes, a port-to-cath surgery and 6 months of grueling Chemotherapy for 5 hours a day 5 days week. I had a 24hour chemo pump I had to wear 24/7 for 6 months, sleeping with it attached to me was rough, it went everywhere I did. But everyday I awoke telling myself it was another I'd never have to go through! Since ALL of my battles, I have learned to surf, ride a bike, bolder scramble, rope descend all with one hand. My proudest accomplishments are Being hired by the US Military teaching our Marines life saving limb saving technics, traveling the world as a published model, and performing with world famous bands like Janes Addiction. This is my Story, thank you for reading! And NEVER give up on yourself, you've got so much more to live for!! follow my public instgram here https://www.instagram.com/tarah_una_dollparts
