Ashley MacLean ready for prom after home-invasion shooting
Friends and family work to make special night even more special
It's prom night for Cole Harbour High students and it will be avery special time for one of those graduates.
Ashley MacLean,19, survived a shooting during a home invasion in November. The Nova Scotia woman was left a quadriplegic.
She's also pressed ahead with her school work. With the help of a tutor she's finished her studies while in hospital and is graduating from high school.
Tonight at her prom, MacLean will wear an off-white gown with sequins given to her by a family friend. A makeup artist, Pierre Larade, donated his time and applied her makeup.
"I had a connection with the family and I felt bad when this situation did happen and I wanted to help out on a special day, because I know how prom is special for everyone," Larade said.
"It's kind of like a big part of your life where you're going from a teenager to an adult. So I just wanted to kind of help Ashley feel like she's going to be the most pretty girl there tonight. And make sure that she has a special night tonight as well."
Her mother, Wendy Kearse, is styling her hair in a partial updo. "It's awesome. I'm very grateful to Pierre, for everybody that helped out. It's emotional too," she said. "She's worked very hard."
Ashley MacLean also plans to stand tall among her friends. She has a $37,000 wheelchair, a donation from a woman on Miramichi, N.B., that will help her stand for short periods.