Woman's Powerful Photo of Wonder Woman Tattoo and Mastectomy Scars Goes Viral

There are plenty of ways to deal with the after-effects of getting a double mastectomy, whether for preventative measures or because breast cancer was detected. Many folks attend support groups, seek counseling, and find that being active with friends are all helpful ways to cope during recovery. Some go beyond these more traditional methods and do things like getting tattoos over mastectomy scars, and the results can be incredibly beautiful and empowering.

One such woman is Stephanie Kelly, a 42-year-old mother of four who tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, which is an indicator that the carrier has a much higher likelihood of developing breast cancer over their lifetime than others. People reported that Kelly also suffers from other health conditions (including fibromyalgia), and as such, she decided to get a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of developing breast cancer down the line.

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Kelly is a lifelong fan of Wonder Woman; post-mastectomy, she decided to commemorate her love of the powerful icon on her body. She shared with People, "I have always loved Wonder Woman, and during this time I began to joke that I was going to be like Wonder Woman and be strong and unfazed by the things I needed to do that scared me." She's also always loved images of the phoenix rising from the ashes, so she worked with Miss Jamie at Lovely Monkey Tattoo Shop in Whitmore Lake, Michigan to design a tattoo that combines Wonder Woman and phoenix imagery.

“With my other health issues, I’d never really been very confident of my body,” Kelly told People. “But now, I already don’t fit the mold of what the world expects, so there is a sense of freedom that comes with that. But then on top of this, I have this image of strength, power and fearlessness across my chest and that continues to build me up. I see my scars now as entirely positive.” It's a powerful message, and a gorgeous tattoo.

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