How do you keep tattooing after your heart stops twice? - Aime Leonhardt

July 03, 2025 - 1 year ago

After surviving two sudden Cardiac Arrests and being diagnosed with three heart conditions, Amie now tattoos with an implantable defibrillator (S-ICD) and a deeper mission: raising awareness for CPR, AED access, and making studios safer for artists with medical needs.

In this Q&A, she shares what it’s really like to tattoo with a heart condition and why every studio should be prepared for a medical emergency ❤️ 

How does your heart condition shape your day-to-day life in the tattoo studio?

I have to be really careful with how I use my time, energy and generally take things easier. Adrenaline, anxiety, stress and fatigue can end with me having dangerous arrhythmias, so it’s really important to schedule time to rest and recover. The studio I am based in and the clients I have are so supportive and understanding, which helps a lot! It’s taken some time to find the right balance, but I’m pretty good at adapting to my limits now and have learnt how to listen to my body.

What’s helped you keep doing what you love, even when things have been?

After surviving 2 SCA (Sudden Cardiac Arrests), I became bionic and was fitted with an S-ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator). It sits under my skin and monitors my heart rate. When it detects a dangerous arrhythmia, it will deliver a shock and restore my heart back to normal. It’s really scary, but I say to people, what’s the point in having it if I’m not going to live my life? Knowing that my life could end at any point definitely puts the pressure on to keep going and make the most of every day. I feel like I must still be here for a reason, so I’m now using my energy to help others and raise awareness by holding fundraisers for heart charities, teaching CPR to the community, and I have just joined Lucy Thompson’s realistic 3D Areola course, so I can start helping in more ways!

Have you ever come across any myths or assumptions about tattooing with a health condition?

I’ve been asked if my tattoo machine interferes with my ICD a few times. The assumption comes from magnets being a problem with implantable devices like pacemakers/ICD. Coil tattoo machines could potentially be an issue if they are held close to the device for a longer period. I have moved on to using pen machines now as a precaution and to make life easier!

Why is CPR and AED awareness something you’re passionate about sharing in the tattoo community?

As tattooists, we sometimes have to deal with clients feeling unwell during the tattoo, which includes fainting! While most of the time it can be a normal reaction to getting tattooed, especially in the heat or not having drunk/eaten, there is a chance it is because of a sudden cardiac arrest. Tattooing releases a lot of adrenaline and puts the body under a lot of pressure, so if someone has an undiagnosed cardiac condition, getting tattooed could be a trigger for a sudden cardiac arrest, especially as it is often the first symptom of a heart condition in a young person. It’s really important for us to know CPR and where the nearest AEDs are, just in case of a medical emergency, it is literally the difference between life and death!

What would you say to someone with a health condition who dreams of becoming a tattoo artist?

Make things as easy as possible for yourself! I’ve made a lot of adaptations over the years to help me manage, with some of the most beneficial coming from Kezz over Tattoo Smarter. Her courses have made tattooing so much better for me, I can’t thank her enough. They’ve been essential in helping me create healthy boundaries at work so I don’t overdo it! Advocate for yourself, make any and all the adjustments you need and find a studio that will support you and your dream. It might take a while to figure out what works best for you, and that’s okay. Try not to beat yourself up or compare yourself because everyone’s journeys are so different!

Sammy Weston for @mortalandstrong.