Healthy Looking Contest Winner
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WINTER 06
he winner of our Healthy Looking contest is Cynthia Nord. We had many wonderful contestants, including several that really tugged at the strings of our heart, but we could only select one winner. Cynthia, or Cindy, is a former Colts Cheerleader, tragically injured in an auto accident 11 years ago, which damaged her spinal cord and left her a quadriplegic. Due to the variety of strong medications Cindy has taken for years to manage her chronic neurological pain, her once beautiful teeth have decayed. Additionally, as a quadriplegic she cannot apply her own make-up or comb her own hair. In order to care for Cindy, her mother Sherry had to quit her high paying and time-consuming job with Anthem. To pay for their basic needs, Sherry now works as a college professor, giving her more time and flexibility to assist her paralyzed daughter. While Sherry is teaching, a home health aid helps Cindy eat, dress, groom and get out of bed. To make matters worse, Cynthia’s wheelchair accessible van was stolen, just one week after she applied to the Healthy Looking contest. At that time, her 20-year high school class reunion was coming up, and Cindy was very concerned, not only about how she would get there – especially since she had worked so hard at planning the event – but also about how her face would look with the premature wrinkling brought on by years of severe pain and anguish. Upon hearing about Cindy’s situation, many friends of Healthy Living with Teresa Tanoos™ volunteered to help her look and feel better. Dr. Catherine Winslow (Winslow Facial Plastic Surgery) provided Aesthera PPx laser treatments, as well as Restylane and Botox injections to fill in Cindy’s “laugh” lines and frown wrinkles. Ashli, one of Dr. Winslow’s aestheticians, gave Cindy semi-permanent 3-D eyelashes for the illusion of mascara-lengthened lashes. Dr. John Lowe (Contemporary Dental Concepts) provided dental veneers and a Zoom whitening treatment to give her a prettier, brighter smile. Deb Lee (Meridian Design Group) gave her a new hair color with highlights and an easier to care for hairdo. Kate Chu (Winslow Facial Plastic Surgery) added permanent eyeliner and eyebrow color to Cynthia’s face so she would no longer have to worry about her inability to apply makeup. Mary and MARTHA’s Exceedingly Chic Boutique (Carmel) donated a stylish outfit and classy accessories to Cindy to wear to her 20-year high school reunion and ABSOLU SPA & SKINCARE provided a manicure and pedicure. Furthermore, a local attorney, Robert Smith (Law Offices of Smith and Wade) negotiated on Cindy and her mother’s behalf with their auto insurance company, and was able to secure a newer replacement van for them within a few weeks. Cindy was not only able to make it to her reunion, she was able to go with a completely new look and a fresh smile. Cindy is now working endlessly on raising funds to undergo an experimental stem cell procedure, only available in Beijing, China, which has helped restore varying amounts of movement and control to others suffering from paralysis. It is Cindy’s hope and prayer that she can raise the amount of funds needed for the special operation, and that she will be able to walk again. For more information about Cindy’s story and the stem cell procedure, plus how you can contribute to her cause, go to www.cynthiashopetrustfund.com. Cartera Media and Healthy Living with Teresa Tanoos magazine wants to publicly thank the above listed individuals and businesses who contributed their valuable time, talent, products, and services to making the Healthy Living contest a success. This was an expensive, but very worthwhile undertaking. We know that Cynthia and her mother are also extremely grateful.
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