A woman in West Virginia, United States, has chosen a unique and emotional way to honour her late husband by preserving the tattooed skin from his arm and displaying it in her home.
Angelica Radevski, aged 35, lost her husband TJ unexpectedly earlier this year. While many people keep framed photographs or memory boxes to remember loved ones, Radivouski decided to preserve a tattoo from her husband’s body as a permanent keepsake.
The tattoo depicted a Pittsburgh Steelers football helmet – TJ’s first large tattoo and a favourite of their 10-year-old son, Preston. At the child’s request, this specific part of his father's tattoo was selected for preservation.
A company based in Ohio, Save My Ink Forever, carried out the procedure by removing, treating and preserving the tattooed skin. After around 90 days, the piece was returned to the family encased in glass and wood framing.
Radevski said the item serves as more than just an image. “When we want to feel close to him, we hold the frame,” she explained. “It has far more impact than an ordinary photograph.”
