Help us raise money to help Shanghai Kate back on her foot!
Our beloved friend and reknowned tattoo pioneering princess, Shanghai Kate Hellenbrand has come into a medical misfortune. Below is the story of how this daring and talented woman was thwarted by a cement ramp, along with an opportunity for you to join us in helping her recover from this disaster. We implore you, as a member or friend of the tattooing community to lend a hand to your sister-in-ink today and give what you can to the collection plate. Kate Hellenbrand has given of herself to the tattooing world for decades and we're calling upon your kindness and generosity to give back to a woman who has truly endeared herself to this industry. Thanks for your help!!
The Incident
AUSTIN, TX -- After 66 years of literally bouncing all over the planet and putting my body on the line time after time, I finally crossed the line. None of this was or ever has been intentional, you understand. I have never gone looking for drama, or trauma. But it seems to find me. And while many of my past physical injuries have been adventures of sorts (falling 300 feet vertically down a glacial face and into a crevasse, breaking nearly every bone in a car accident, being run down by a pack of wild dogs in the Panamanian rain forest), I never had the feeling that my injuries were life-changing or that I wouldn't soon be back on the track, ready for my next "good time."
I had been in Austin for less than one hour. I've been working a bit with the Diablo Rojo Tattoo Studio here and it was my first venture down to this fun musical town in some years. I checked out the cute little trailer park where I was to stay and then ate some crepes at FlipHappy before heading over to the local food market to grab some snacks. ONE HOUR!
There had been some rain and everything was wet. The steps in front of the store were under an awning and I wanted to take advantage of that extra runway of dry concrete, I instead headed down a tiny tongue of a ramp jutting into the parking lot. Unfortunately for me, the store's ownership had decided to paint this concrete ramp with Hi-Gloss Enamel paint. No traction strips, no devices to slow me down as I stepped onto this small hump of a ramp and felt my sneakered foot slide out from under me. I at first thought it wasn't going to be too bad until my left toes hit the pavement below the ramp. With just enough velocity and pitch, my foot flipped over and I landed full body weight on the top of my foot, snapping my shin in half.
The pain was bad. The shock of what I'd done was worse. The fact that I was holding my left foot in my hands, rattling loose on the end of my left leg was beyond frightening. An ambulance came quickly. So did the morphine. Got to the hospital and four hours of surgery and nine days in hospital later, me, my leg with plates and screws and pins and rods have now moved into an extended stay Motel in a town I don't know. I will have to stay here for two months. At least. I can't work and can't put any body weight on my left leg. I'm in bed. Time to write that book at long last.
I had been in Austin for less than one hour. I've been working a bit with the Diablo Rojo Tattoo Studio here and it was my first venture down to this fun musical town in some years. I checked out the cute little trailer park where I was to stay and then ate some crepes at FlipHappy before heading over to the local food market to grab some snacks. ONE HOUR!
There had been some rain and everything was wet. The steps in front of the store were under an awning and I wanted to take advantage of that extra runway of dry concrete, I instead headed down a tiny tongue of a ramp jutting into the parking lot. Unfortunately for me, the store's ownership had decided to paint this concrete ramp with Hi-Gloss Enamel paint. No traction strips, no devices to slow me down as I stepped onto this small hump of a ramp and felt my sneakered foot slide out from under me. I at first thought it wasn't going to be too bad until my left toes hit the pavement below the ramp. With just enough velocity and pitch, my foot flipped over and I landed full body weight on the top of my foot, snapping my shin in half.
The pain was bad. The shock of what I'd done was worse. The fact that I was holding my left foot in my hands, rattling loose on the end of my left leg was beyond frightening. An ambulance came quickly. So did the morphine. Got to the hospital and four hours of surgery and nine days in hospital later, me, my leg with plates and screws and pins and rods have now moved into an extended stay Motel in a town I don't know. I will have to stay here for two months. At least. I can't work and can't put any body weight on my left leg. I'm in bed. Time to write that book at long last.
Here's how to help!
A thousand thanks to Jeannie, Patti and the Am-Jam Family for their immeasurable assistance with this fundraiser! Muchas gracias to Adam at bodymod.org for his generous help and quick action as well!! Also, many thanks and praises to all of you who have donated, passed the word along and sent out prayers and positive energy to help another person out in a time of need! You people rock!
