AS mum-of-two Tracey Cooper relaxes into the makeover chair, it is hard to believe that just months ago, the police knocked at the door of her Witherwack home with tragic news.
"My brother was working in Essex on a demolition site when he was killed by a 32-tonne slab of concrete, "Tracey, 41, explained.
"The police came round to tell me within an hour of his death. I still can't believe it's happened. Even though he lived away, he would still ring me every day and I still keep expecting him to phone."
That was on April 9 and Sunderland-born Gary Drinkald, 43, was working in construction on the A1306 in West Thurrock where a bridge over a railway line was being replaced.
A former Red House School pupil, Gary's job was to strap down slabs of concrete once they had been lifted from a crane on to a low loader.
"The slab wasn't lying right and it vibrated and slipped off the low loader," said Tracey.
Dad-of-two Gary had been living in Aylesbury, but he remained close to his Sunderland family.

Tracey, who lives at Helmsley Court, still recalls her big brother's sense of humour: "The day I got married it got to the part where they ask if anyone has any rice, so Gary pulled out a tin of Ambrosia rice. That was his sense of humour, he was always having fun."
The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the incident, but it could be up to two years before the family have any answers.
In part, it was Tracey's strength throughout the ordeal that inspired Laura, who recently completed a diploma in childcare, to put pen to paper and nominate her mum for the £650 makeover.
The 20-year-old said: "My mam never seems to have any time to herself. Life has been very hectic for the past few months.
"About two years ago, I was seriously ill in hospital with a blood disorder. I was in intensive care for 10 days, my mam never left my side praying and hoping I'd pull through.
"Since then, I've been in and out of hospital a few times and it's my mam who's always there for me."
The keen dancer needed her mum more than ever when she was diagnosed at 14 with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare, incurable condition that causes translucent skin, visible veins, easy bruising and joints that are susceptible to dislocation.
Like any child, when Laura was little, she had her fair share of bruises, but it wasn't until she grew older that her parents realised something was seriously wrong.
Tracey, who also has a six-year-old son Michael, said: "If Laura ever fell over, her skin would be so thin that you could see the bone. We knew something wasn't right."
EDS is caused by a lack of collagen in the body, but doctors were amazed when, despite the diagnosis, Laura still had traces of collagen in her system – something which doctors had never seen before.
They were further mystified four years later when Laura developed a rare and life-threatening disorder that affects red blood cells.
Known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), it causes small blood clots to form which took their toll on the teenager's young body.
Tracey, who works part-time at the Royal Mail in Doxford Park, said: "Her platelet count was drastically low. She was put on a life-support machine. We were told that if she made it through the night it would be a miracle.
"I felt as if I was in a tunnel. I was on automatic pilot, you see things like it on television but you never think it will happen to you."
Gruelling treatment soon followed, but fate dealt the family another cruel blow when Laura, who dances at the Julie Donachie dance school in Southwick, was also diagnosed with pancreatitis.
Tracey, who is married to trainee gas engineer Brian, said: "In the last three years, Laura has had pancreatitis three times but doctors don't know if it's connected to her other conditions.
"As treatment, she had her gall bladder removed in May. It was the same week that my brother was cremated. We were devastated."
Yet, despite all that they have been through, Tracey has still managed to put aside her family's tragedy to help others.
As well as being a governor at Witherwack Primary School, she is also a respite foster carer.
"We look after babies to eight-year-olds to give their foster carers a break. It's a really rewarding job, I wish I could have kept some of the kids.
"It's nice to be able to give full-time foster carers a break and I like having the house full."
Meanwhile, the family also take time to organise fundraising events for genetic research into Laura's condition.
And Laura couldn't be more thankful.
She said about her mum: "She deserves a nice treat to take her mind off things, even if it is just for a few hours."
Being chosen came as a welcome surprise to Tracey. She said: "It was such a shock – I couldn't eat my dinner when I found out I had won.
"A couple of weeks ago, I had a blood transfusion in hospital after I was taken ill. I looked as if I was at death's door, so I really needed a makeover."
A fortnight after leaving her hospital bed following a suspected hormonal condition, Tracey was looking better than ever as she posed for the photographic shoot.
She said: "It was absolutely fabulous, I felt like a princess. I would never have dreamt of buying most of the clothes but it's nice to try a different look.
"It was so nice of Laura to nominate me, I guess she thought I deserved it after what we've been through in the past few years."
l Tracey's Butterfly Effect makeover was held at the Pinkor Studios in the Ramsay & Johnson Hair & Beauty, Blandford Street.
Priced £650, it includes hair, make-up and a clothes consultation, plus a portfolio and a block or print canvas to hang on your wall.
For more information, contact photographer Scott Spock on 07985 420 659.
Tracey wore clothes from Eleven and Miss Selfridge.


* IF you would like to nominate someone for a makeover to appear in Saturday's Relax supplement, write to Women's Editor, Linda Colling, Echo House, Pennywell Industrial Estate, Sunderland SR4 9ER.




NEWS FOCUS

FOR the first time, victims are coming face-to-face with offenders in a bid to put young troublemakers back on the straight and narrow. Chief Reporter CRAIG THOMPSON finds out how the unique scheme is changing lives.

Facing up to the crime

WIPING the slate clean and getting Sunderland's young people on the right side of the law.
That's the aim of the city's nationally- acclaimed Youth Offending Service referral scheme.
Offering the unique opportunity for victims of crime to get involved in the rehabilitation of those who committed offences against them, it is proving an unprecedented success.
Now, a recruitment drive is under way to find volunteers to sit on panels. These panels decide the kind of reparation work which can be carried out so that offenders put right some of the damage they have caused.
Sid Paxton, 66, is a retired teacher and businessman from Roker, who wanted to use his experience of raising a family to help other young people.
Mr Paxton said: "I think I was one of the first volunteers after I spotted an advert in the paper and applied to take part. It's been a very rewarding experience.
"I've always been interested in helping the community and didn't want to waste my skills and experience working with young people when I retired but put them to good use.
"I've been lucky with my kids so I wanted to help other families. People suggested I become a magistrate but I was more interested in helping people rather than judging them.
"I'll always remember one occasion when a lady victim of crime turned up to meet the young man who had been involved in stealing and vandalising the van she'd just bought to start up a small catering business.
"At first, his body language was like he just didn't care, but as this woman explained how his actions had not only put her livelihood at risk, but also her staff, you could see him begin to realise the impact of what he had done – and his determination to put it right.
"These kind of meetings are not always possible but just getting the young person to write a letter of explanation to the victim really gets them to think."
First-time offenders who successfully complete the terms of their referral order within the prescribed time, are given a fresh start with the misdemeanour wiped from their records.
Linda Mason, YOS operations manager, said: "What our volunteers will do is get involved in the first stage of the rehabilitation programme designed not only to help the young people involved, but also help the victims of their crimes feel as though they are playing a part in dealing with the offenders in a positive way"
Deborah Loraine, team manager with the YOS offices in Lambton House has a team of seven care managers working across the city to implement the Referral Order System.
She said: "It is the only order where successful completion means the young person's conviction will be classed as spent and they will not have a criminal record."
The service also offers one-to-one counselling looking into issues such as education, substance misuse and health.
Mrs Mason added: "This project is another example of the city's commitment to helping the development of its young people.
"Sunderland's mentoring project was the first of its kind in the country, with 150 people from all walks of life taking time out to provide friendly advice to young people on a one-to-one basis."