Tattoo fundraiser supports toddler Family 'overwhelmed' by turnout at Abington shop to help their daughter

Max Muir didn't even wince as the tattoo gun buzzed and Jeff Hardiman began tracing several small flowers on his forearm, adding to the collection.

The design took just a few minutes, and Muir admired his newest ink while Hardiman prepared for one of the many customers waiting to get inked at Red Elk Tattoo in Abington on Sunday.

For much of the day Sunday, the Bedford Street tattoo parlor overflowed with people who turned out for its flash event to benefit Mariela Correa and her family. The 1 1/2 year old from Quincy was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia - a defect of the diaphragm that allows organs like the stomach and liver to push up into the chest.

"I'm doing something good and getting a tattoo I want at the same time," said, Muir, a 19-year-old from Weymouth who doesn't know the family, but learned about the event online.

After spending most of her first year of life in Boston Children's Hospital, Mariela was doing well until a recent trip to visit her great-grandparents in California. Andrea Sandoval, Mariela's mother, said scar tissue caused part of Mariela's intestines to twist and create a blockage.

Mariela was rushed by medical helicopter to a Los Angeles hospital, where she stayed for three weeks and underwent several surgeries before she could get transported back to Boston earlier this month.

Mariela will spend a few more weeks at Children's Hospital before she can go home to Quincy, when she will restart her regimen of occupational and speech therapy.

"She's incredible. She's a miracle multiple times over," Sandoval said.

Sandoval's best friend and Mariela's godmother, Hayley Gerstl, of Quincy, started a fundraising page for the family, who face mounting medical bills and the unexpected expenses from staying in California.

Gerstl had gone to Red Elk for several tattoos, and co-owners Frede Cugno and Hardiman saw the fundraiser and offered to host a flash tattoo event and donate all the money raised to Mariela's family.

"We wanted to donate as much as we could, and the best way we can is by doing what we love," Hardiman said as he cleaned up between customers.

Friends of the family and strangers alike turned out for the event, which drew both first-timers and those well accustomed to going under the needle. Tattoos were sold first come, first serve at a discounted price, and customers had six different design sheets to choose from, including flowers, animals and small pinup girls.

An artist from Mass-Ink Custom Tattoo in East Bridgewater and two from Broad Street Tattoo in Bridgewater joined Cugno and Hardiman. Cugno estimated the five artists would complete 90 tattoos before the end of the day.

Tears swelled in Sandoval's eyes as she looked around the crowded room, overcome by the turnout of people who seemed unfazed by the wait.

"I feel so blessed and overwhelmed. We know that Mari is the sweetest, most incredible baby, but to see that all these people agree with us - it's amazing," she said. "For these artists to donate their time to be here - there are no words."

Sandoval and her husband, Carlos Correa, spend all day with Mariela and switched off sleeping by her hospital bed, since only one parent can stay the night. On Sunday, Carlos Correa arrived early at Red Elk to get his first tattoo ever before heading back in to Boston.

Sandoval said the support is especially meaningful because she and her husband don't have family in the area. Gerstl's parents, Kathy and Tom Cahill, of Hull, dote on Mariela like she's their own granddaughter, and they both planned to get their first tattoos on Sunday in her honor.

"I'm scared to death," said Kathy Cahill. "But (Mariela) is so special, and she could not have been born to better parents."

Jessica Trufant may be reached at jtrufant@patriotledger.com.