Natalie's Everyday Heroes: New nonprofit offers pampering for people living with ALS
FRANKLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The "look good-feel good" connection is real. A little bit of self-care can reduce stress and boost confidence.
It's that mindset that a woman in Franklin is tapping into. Facing her own ALS diagnosis, she's launched a nonprofit to make sure other patients get a little TLC.
"Oh yeah, you healed great," Diana Yusufov said, checking Peggy Merrill's eyebrows.
The perfect eyebrow frames your face.
"The shape looks good, Peggy," she said.
Merrill is getting her eyebrows touched up after an initial appointment.
A little tweezing first.
"It hurts more than the actual tattoo itself, see," Yusufov said.
And then Yusufov goes in with the pigment.
"My goal for when people come in here, to walk out feeling even better and more fabulous than they did. It really is a feeling more than anything," she said.
And that feeling is part of what Merrill is looking for.
"And waking up with them has been delightful from the very first day," Merrill said.
Two years ago, she was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. She uses an app on her phone that's programmed with her own voice to talk.
"But I don't dwell on what I can't do. Every day now is a gift. And most days I'm very optimistic," she said.
She's getting her make-up permanently applied through the nonprofit OPALS4ALS. It stands for Offering Pampering for People Living with ALS. It's an organization that was started by Amy McKnight, which aims to connect people living with ALS to beauty professionals.
"As my ALS progressed, and I became weaker, I began relying more and more on my husband for help with everyday tasks," McKnight said.
McKnight realized some things that used to be simple- like putting on make-up-- aren't anymore.
"Make-up may not be essential, but for me, it helped boost my self-esteem and allowed me to look like myself," she said.
Yusufov, who owns Gadis Beauty Studio, is one of the providers donating services to OPALS4ALS.
"When she reached out, I was like, say less, I got you, girl," Yusufov said with a laugh.
Giving Merrill a smile when she looks in the mirror.
"What Amy has brought to me through OPALS is the ability to welcome the woman in the mirror with more acceptance and grace," Merrill said.
McKnight wants to connect more people living with ALS with haircuts, facials and massages and other treatments. Friend, Jen Uttke, said they need help.
"It's very easy when we can come in a salon setting like this, but most of our patients are immobile. So, we need in-home providers who can do a haircut, maybe, at a kitchen table," Uttke said.
Things that may seem small.
"So pretty," Yusufov said as Merrill looked in the mirror.
But they are things that make a big difference.
"It made me realize how meaningful a simple act of pampering can be for someone living with ALS," McKnight said.
Merrill owned a yoga studio in Oshkosh before her ALS diagnosis. McKnight was a teacher in Oak Creek. So, both had recordings of their voices. A company called 11 Labs cloned their voices using recordings. So, they are speaking in their own voices when they type on an app to speak.
If you'd like to help OPALS4ALS, you can visit www.OPALS4ALS.org. They are looking for volunteers and donations to be able to reach more people.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].