Life is full of decisions, and sometimes those choices can come back to affect us in unexpected and life-altering ways. This was the reality for Taylor White, a woman from Florida, whose life took a dramatic turn after a traumatic experience left her with permanent reminders etched on her skin.
Taylor’s story began when she was just 21 years old, in a relationship that quickly turned abusive. Her partner subjected her to both physical and emotional harm, and one fateful night, things took a devastating turn. On her 21st birthday, Taylor went out to celebrate, unaware of the plans her partner had in store. He ensured she was heavily intoxicated and, with the help of his friends, convinced her to go to a motel.
The next morning, Taylor woke up in excruciating pain, with no clear memory of what had happened the night before. She had a vague sense that she had been violated, but the full extent of the trauma became clear when she looked in the mirror. Her face was covered in tattoos—crude, offensive images that no one would ever choose to have permanently inked on their skin.
Devastated and overwhelmed, Taylor initially tried to hide the tattoos with makeup. For a while, she thought she was managing, but her supervisor eventually noticed the markings beneath the concealer. Fortunately, her supervisor was compassionate and understood the emotional toll she was enduring. He offered to help by covering the tattoos with blackout ink, hoping it would allow her to live a more "normal” life.
That was in 2008, and for years, Taylor faced countless job rejections and societal judgment because of the blackout ink on her face. But her story took a hopeful turn in 2023 when a TikTok user, TheDadBot, stumbled upon her live stream. The creator behind the account, Karridy Askenasy, was deeply moved by Taylor’s story and felt compelled to help.
"The challenges she was facing clearly had a profound impact on her life,” Karridy said. "It was holding her back from reaching her full potential.”
Karridy reached out to Taylor and offered to cover the cost of tattoo removal. He contacted several hospitals and clinics, determined to find a solution. That’s when Removery, a company specializing in laser tattoo removal, stepped in. They offered to perform the procedure free of charge, even though it would typically cost thousands of dollars.
The process of removing Taylor’s tattoos will be lengthy, potentially taking up to two years. However, Taylor remains optimistic. During her first session, she smiled throughout, showing remarkable resilience. Now 37 years old, Taylor sees the tattoo removal as more than just a cosmetic change.
"This isn’t just about removing ink from my skin,” she explained. "It’s about removing a part of my past that no longer defines me. It’s about reclaiming my life and moving forward.”
Taylor’s journey is a testament to her strength and the power of kindness from strangers. With the support of people like Karridy and the team at Removery, she is finally on the path to healing and a brighter future.
