Natalie's Everyday Heroes: A little eavesdropping helps create a Cinderella moment
OAK CREEK, Wis. (CBS 58) -- This is a story that starts with eavesdropping. Which, in this case, turned out to be a very good thing.
Shelby Williamson owns Eva's Bridal in Oak Creek. And when her mother-in-law overheard a mom desperate to find her daughter the perfect dress, she put them in touch.
"Are you ready?" Williamson asked.
This is the moment Mary Schroeder has been waiting for. And after a little maneuvering in the fitting room, it's time.
"Carrie's a magician with zippers," Williamson said, as Mary tried a beautiful gown on at her final fitting. "Are you ready?"
The moment for the big reveal.
"Here is our beautiful dress," Williamson exclaimed.
It was an emotional moment for mom, Jennifer Schroeder.
"It's more than a dress," she said with tears in her eyes.
It took a lot to get here, seeing Mary dance and twirl in her beautiful gown.
"I would say this is a case, like a unique case, where eavesdropping really pays off in a positive way," Williamson said.
Jennifer and Mary had been looking everywhere for a dress.
"And I was just saying how frustrating it was because I can't find her anything and we spent the whole day," Jennifer said.
The right person overheard.
"My mother-in-law, Susanne. Hi Susanne," Williamson said with a laugh. "She was just like, hey, long shot here, my daughter-in-law owns a bridal store."
Williamson had just the dress for Mary.
"I put it on and I was like, yeah, this is the one," Mary said.
This 10-year-old had big plans for the gown.
"I'm going to be like such a diva in the dress. Like my strut, when I walk down, is going to be like breathtaking," Mary said.
Mary has more than earned a moment in the spotlight.
"I had leukemia in my spinal column fluid. It's tough to say," she said.
She endured 800 days of active treatment.
"You don't understand what the world of childhood cancer is like until it's your child," Jennifer said.
Through it all, she worked to help others.
She even organized a toy drive with Waukesha firefighters to fill up the toy closet at Children's Wisconsin.
"People have given back to me, so I feel like I should give back to them," Mary said.
And that right there is why Mary needed this dress.
"I'm just so grateful that she'll be able to feel so special and loved," Jennifer said.
Mary was honored as a local hero at this year's Blood Cancer United Visionaries of the Year event. She walked the red carpet and everything.
Williamson donated the dress and alterations. She was happy to get a chance to play fairy godmother.
"I'm a mom of three little girls, and I know exactly what it's like to want your daughters to feel, look pretty, have fun and just love what they're doing," she said.
Mary's mom says she is doing well now. Her labs are normal and she's back at school. And she plans to donate the dress to another little girl at the MACC when she outgrows it.
For more information on Blood Cancer United, click here.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].