After a major surgery at birth, Mimi couldn't use her right arm & was also left with scars. "I knew how much it was weighing on her," one of the siblings said.
Three Brulé sisters of Davidson, North Carolina, wanted to do something for their youngest sister, who has cerebral palsy. Mimi required major surgery after a stroke at birth that left her without the use of her right arm. She had to undergo a procedure where doctors cut 70 percent of the nerves in her arm and hand. The result was a number of glaring scars. "Like any major change it takes a while to get used to," Mimi told PEOPLE. "There's no back button. It is a lot of trying to accept my new normal and the way it looks and over time with help from my sisters, I don't hate [my scars] as much as I did when I first saw them."
Her sisters Camille, 23, and Claire, 25, and her twin Tess decided to do something special for Mimi. They all got matching scar tattoos similar to the red line across Mimi's arm! Camille came up with the idea of getting tattoos just like Mimi's latest scars. Even though they're not the tattooing type, Camille said she always tries and thinks "what can I do to lighten her load when I see Mimi in pain, what can I do to show I'm in unity with her through these surgeries." Camille confessed that she "was a nervous wreck," when getting her ink, "but It makes me feel empowered," she added. "I think it's the best decision I've ever made ... it means so much to me."
'It's Unity': Sisters Get Matching Tattoos of Sibling's Scar in Solidarity https://t.co/NML69SguRR
— People (@people) February 24, 2023
The siblings decided to not just stop there, they ended up getting one more! "We all went for the obvious ones, the ones you could see more noticeably," Camille explained.
Mimi's twin Tess got emotional sharing how she understood her sister's pain. "It's been pretty difficult because we're so close and share a special connection. I knew how much it was weighing on her so I knew how much a sign of solidarity would mean to her and change her view of her own scars on her own body. At least I hope so," she said through tears.
It was a heartwarming way to connect for everyone with Claire saying, "I always get to see how much we are truly bonded as sisters when I look at my arm. It's kind of like a fun secret. It looks like any real scar, but it's not mine, it's my sister's, and we get to all wear it proudly."
So how does Mimi feel about the sweet gesture? Mimi said, "I was very surprised with how realistic they look. It was very shocking to look at my arm and then look at my sisters' and realize I have that too. I feel totally supported. I look at their arms and they match mine. It's very touching."
References:
https://people.com/human-interest/sisters-get-matching-tattoos-of-sibling-scar-in-solidarity/
Representational Cover Image Source: Getty Images | South_agency
