This amazing tale demonstrates the transformative power of social media. A botched drug transaction cost Mark Cropp nearly two years in prison, and now, as a young guy from New Zealand, he had to make a difficult decision.
When Mark was released from prison, he desired a new beginning. He and his brother made a significant choice one evening when inebriated on homemade booze made from apples, bread, and sugar.
They made the decision to tattoo Mark’s moniker on his face when they were inebriated. They utilized melted plastic knives and forks and homemade toothpaste ink. The end product was a massive “Devast8” tattoo in black that covered his lower face and jaw. However, Mark would subsequently come to regret this tattoo.
Following his release from jail, Mark was faced with an unsettling truth: he was jobless. Despite his desire to assist his girlfriend and children and reintegrate into society, his large facial tattoo made this extremely difficult. Bosses were reluctant to recruit him despite his prior job experience due to his tattoos.
Mark explained the significance of the tattoo to the Daily Mail Australia. “Everything I did for a long time turned out badly,” he remarked. I would let everyone I came in contact with or met down.
He clarified, saying, “I would constantly hear, ‘That’s awful,’ when they were displeased about something I did or said. I couldn’t stop once I got going on it. To be honest, I wish I had quit when they were still sketching the outline.
“I had this on my face before I realized it,” he remarked. It had a pumpkin-like swell.
Mark was determined to get rid of the tattoo, but the cost was prohibitive. The best alternative, laser removal, required several sessions and was quite expensive. He thus looked to social media for support.
He asked for a job and a fresh start in a Facebook photo he shared, revealing his large tattoo. His letter gained a lot of attention online, which caught the attention of the staff at Auckland’s Sacred Tattoo.
Inspired by Mark’s narrative and sensing an opportunity to lend a hand, Sacred Tattoo made a remarkable decision. They offered to pay for Mark’s “Devast8” tattoo to be removed from his face. This tattoo parlor is well-known for giving back to the neighborhood, and their deed of compassion demonstrated just how much they care.
This compassionate offer demonstrated the transformative potential of social media as well as the importance of kindness.
Mark also secured employment with PR Contracting, a scaffolding firm. There, he makes $22 per hour.
