Betty Swanson and Michelle Hyden are friends, but now they have tattoos that have brought them even closer.
The women received tattoos Wednesday night at Hank's Tattoo, Warsaw, by Hank Hernandez, business owner, to symbolize their experiences with breast cancer.
Swanson, 41, Atwood, a breast cancer survivor, got a hope tattoo with the letters "H" and "E" in the shape of the breast cancer awareness ribbon.
Hyden, 33, Akron, whose mother died of breast cancer, got a tattoo of a breast cancer ribbon with angel wings that reads "In The Arms of The Angels."
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Hank's Tattoo has been offering free breast cancer awareness tattoos to the public every Wednesday since August on a first-come, first-serve basis from 5 to 7 p.m.
The breast cancer awareness ribbon tattoo is free, but lettering, dates and any other parts of the tattoo cost the customer.
The business is at 3704 Lake City Highway, Warsaw, along U.S. 30 in between Provident Studios and Cash Depot.
Hernandez came up with the idea to offer the free tattoos a year ago when his friend, Linda Sanchez, was battling with breast cancer. Sanchez died in April.
Hernandez said not only is he allowed to use his tattooing skills, but his business has been a place for both men and women to share their cancer experiences and learn from one another.
"The biggest thing is to see a smile on their face when the tattoo is done. Sometimes I see a smile and tears and I know the tattoo means something to them and is a monument on their skin," Hernandez said.
Swanson and Hyden are not only friends, but work together at Da-Lite Screen Co.
Swanson is married to Troy, and she has a daughter, Lynn, and son, Elijah.
Hyden is married to Larry, and they have a son, Hunter.
Their breast cancer awareness tattoos were the third tattoos for each of the women.
Swanson already has a butterfly and rose tattoo, and Hyden has a unicorn and gecko tattoo.
Swanson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. She discovered a lump on her breast Thanksgiving night.
She went to the doctor and underwent a mammogram and a biopsy and she was informed she had cancer. Swanson said she did not have any family history of cancer.
"I felt disbelief, anger, confusion, sadness, but knew I had to fight it," Swanson said.
Swanson underwent chemotherapy, lost all her hair, and wore wigs.
"If it wasn't for God, my husband and family and friends, I wouldn't have gotten through this, and I didn't realize how many people cared about me until I lived through this," Swanson said.
Swanson said the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund through the K21 Health Foundation was a big help when she underwent chemotherapy and helped with house payments, electricity bills and paying for a wig for her to wear.
Swanson said the word "hope" meant a lot to her when she was going through cancer. She said when people see her "hope" tattoo she wants them to realize cancer can happen to anyone.
Hyden said she wanted to get the tattoo to remember her mother, Gloria Ackels. Ackels was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 at age 44, and died in 2001.
"The tattoo helps me to memorialize my mother and keep a piece of her with me always," Hyden said.For more information, call Hank's Tattoo at 574-268-5292.
The business also has a Facebook page for the breast cancer ribbons, Awareness Ribbon.
