Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Friday morning was the "reveal" of the FOX21 Makeover winner. Christine Mency submitted an essay about friend Nichole "Ann" Freeman, who was chosen to benefit from services by the Outlets at Castle Rock and Salon Oasis. Read her words below:

Submitted by Christine Mency:

"'Jan. 3, 2007~This was the horrible day of a tragic accident. It was noon and my beautiful two and a half year old daughter was eating one of her favorite foods, chicken nuggets. The chicken nugget got stuck in her wind pipe,completely blocking her airway. After 10 long minutes without ANY oxygen a second ambulance that arrived was able to get the chicken nugget out and resuscitate Alyssa. She is an Angel.Fortunately all her organs were okay except for her brain. On day four after the accident her brain swelled so much that she almost died....again. The doctors didn't have much hope. Letting us know that if she did make it she would be in a persistent coma for the rest of her life.'   -- Copied from Alyssa's Web site, www.helpalyssa.blogspot.com.

"Jan 2007 changed Nichole's life forever, and her family. Her husband, just left the night before the accident to go back to Iraq. He was still enroute to Iraq, when the accident happened and little Alyssa fell into cardiac arrest. Alyssa has up to 5 appointments each and every day. She is now 4 years old and has had several surgeries, to inlcude silent seizures, around 100 a day. Therefore, Nichole had to quit her job. She is Alyssa's nurse. She is also a military wife. She also has a 7 year old son, in 2nd grade. She has little to no time for herself. Some of Alyssa's appointments require her to go other places, such as Florida, Minnesota, etc. Every day is a struggle. When Alyssa catches a cold, they hopsitalize her, and Nichole has to live her life out of a hospital, at times for weeks.

"She really deserves a makeover and a little time to herself to relax. She has been through a lot and can only hope to see her daughter smile again and talk again, to say 'Mommy, I love you.' I believe this makeover will give Nichole a 'jumpstart' and a sense of motiviation to help her continue her journey in helping her daughter repair her brain injury. Any and all aspects of a makeover will be great for Nichole."

Please click on the camera icon to view the story as it aired on FOX21 Morning News.