The Ink Link: A story of transformation after adversity

Kate Weaver-Gibbs was a speaker at the InsureTalk Live event in October. She shared her story of recovery after a terrible accident left her body and mind in pieces. Her skull literally broke in half, she had a broken neck, her right side was paralysed, and she had brainstem damage. She spent time in a coma and awoke with no memory.

At the event we noticed she had some radical ink, so we asked her about it. Here’s what she said:

By Kate Weaver-Gibbs

In my early adulthood I was pretty anti-tattoos. The idea of permanently marking my body was just a big “no” for me. I couldn’t fathom why people would willingly tattoo themselves – surely there were better things to do with time, money, and one’s body, right? Well, life had a funny way of changing my perspective.

In 2016, I experienced a life-altering accident in Italy. The aftermath left me with a traumatic brain injury, erasing chunks of my memory. It’s like someone took a giant eraser to the experiences that shaped me into the person I was just before the accident. The twists and turns of life leading up to that point were lost, and I had to navigate my way back to myself.

Catastrophic brain injury is a journey from point A to point B, but with the loss of memory, you end up somewhere near point C. Strangely, the person I became after my accident felt more authentic, reminiscent of the girl I was at 15 or 16 – the one into punk rock, who admired tattoos and piercings.

Fast forward to 2018, at the age of 36, I decided it was time to embrace what I once dismissed. The catalyst? After completing my rehabilitation in Italy, a nurse named Betty encouraged me to run, my mum capturing the joyful moment on video. I shared it with my neurosurgeon, who responded with “Per Aspera Ad Astra”, revealing it was Latin for “through difficulty and hard times to the stars” and told me to run – as the video had shown – to the stars. This became the inspiration for my first tattoo.

“Per Aspera Ad Astra” symbolised the transformation I underwent post-accident. Placed on my left arm, the side affected by blindness due to brain damage, the tattoo holds profound significance.

On the tail end of the tattoo, another layer of symbolism, a cross, a nod to my Christian faith, a significant pillar in my recovery.

The journey continued, and my tattoos became a canvas for my evolving story.

The next ink marked the date that changed my life forever – December 2, 2016. In Roman numerals – II XII MMXVI – it’s a permanent reminder of the day everything shifted.

Then life threw another curveball, leading to divorce, but my ex-husband, Scott, remained a crucial part of my support system. I always said that I had a great neurosurgical team, God and a great Scott on my side. After we were divorced I wanted to honour the gratitude I have for Scott. I remain resolute that I would not have recovered the way I have if not for him. So his fingerprint, enlarged is inked on my wrist next to Mister Ricci’s (neurosurgeon) words and cross. 

Sunday after getting Scott’s fingerprint tattooed on my wrist, a message came in my church newsletter – featuring a finger print and caption: we have a unique fingerprint as a reminder that we can touch someone life in a unique way. Deo Volente, meaning “God willing”, emerged during a church service, motivating my determination – God has a bigger plan for me.

My right bicep proudly displays a Bible verse from Proverbs, my favourite book: “She is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.” This verse, repeatedly shared with me after my accident, encapsulates my desire to live without fear. 

It’s funny how life can flip your perspective. I went from scoffing at tattoos to cherishing each one. I don’t look or sound like someone who’s had such brain damage so the ink tells the story. When I look at them I’m reminded of the abundance of blessings and love I have received. It’s daily motivation to keep running to the stars and touch as many lives as possible en route, with the message that great transformation is born from adversity.

The Ink Link is an ongoing project at CN&CO that showcases the diversity of tattoos. One of the great things about a tattoo is that it goes against the commonly-held viewpoint that “what you see is what you get”. There’s a misguided belief in certain quarters that only “”some”” people get a tattoo. We are putting paid to that perception through the stories showcased in the Ink Link. If you or anyone you know would like to be featured, please get in contact with us.