BETWEEN caring for her sick daughter and running a business Australind mother Deanne Macri does not have much time to look after herself.
So when a local salon surprised the deserving woman with a makeover she could not believe it.
Mrs Macri’s daughter Casey was born with an inoperable brain tumour.
As she grew the little girl was subjected to multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
At three-years-old she suffered a debilitating stroke, but fought through it, eventually attending school with the assistance of a splint.
Tragedy struck the family again when multiple strokes took away Casey’s motor skills.
The 13-year-old now relies on her mother and carers for around-the-clock help.
Last Saturday Chris Macri took his unsuspecting wife into Studio 66 under the guise of getting hair cuts for their two sons.
She was greeted by Studio 66 owners Shara and Tony Novello, who explained what was happening.
“I was shocked, I really was dumbfounded,” Mrs Macri said.
“I thought my husband had decided the boys were going to have a haircut so when Tony and Shara greeted me and explained that I had the salon all to myself, I must have had a big look of shock on my face.”
With the help of the salon’s beauticians Mrs Macri had her hair cut, styled and coloured, received a post treatment head massage, had a manicure and pedicure, facial, waxing, eye brown tint and “special occasion” makeup applied.
“I felt a million dollars – they pampered me, made me laugh and really looked after me,” she said.
After the makeover she was taken to the Prince of Wales where owner Mitch Thorn had a $200 voucher and a reserved table waiting.
Mrs Macri said if it had not been a surprise she would have found “a million and one excuses” why she could not go.
“It’s probably something that I’d never do myself because for me everyone else comes first, so it’s nice that everyone thought of me.”
“I would just like to thank Tony, Shara and the girls for doing this for me and for their great company.”