Painting of the beautiful Shantaya for my scar series. With kind permission from her Mum and Shantaya herself. Here is what Shantaya has to say about her scar in her own words “I remember I was very young, a toddler I think. My heart wasn’t working properly and I was tired and weak. The hospital doctor said I had a hole in my heart and I needed an operation to mend it.
I don’t remember much about the operation except the mask going over my face and then seeing the long scar on my chest. I think I was in hospital for a while.
When I look at my scar now I feel both happy and sad. Sad that I had to have it done but happy it saved my life.
Most of all I am proud of my scar because it means that I am a survivor”
