Early Christmas gift for deserving Salisbury woman

Dianne Zahn has worked as a hair stylist at It’s a Shear Thing for nine years. But Thursday was the first time she’s been blindfolded by her boss. And it was for a good reason.

When she opened her eyes, there stood Tracy Jones from Herl’s Bath & Tile Solutions, with a dozen yellow roses, balloons, and the news that Dianne had won a $10,000 “Dream Bath Makeover.”

That’s a bathroom renovation for Dianne and her husband, Bob, who has suffered from Multiple Sclerosis since 1985. He used to be a teacher, but his condition became too much in 1998 and he went on disability.

“He got to the point where he couldn’t get out of the wheelchair at all, and so for about 17 years I’ve had to help bathe him and do all the things that need to be done. Every day. Every morning and every night,” said Dianne.

She calls these activities “daily chores,” but she smiles as she talks about helping her husband. She wears that same smile to work too.

“What she goes through on a daily basis, and for what she does before she even comes to work, and comes to work with an attitude that is a role model for all of us,” said Eddie McNamara, who owns the salon.

Elated, and understandably emotional, Dianne is looking forward to what the renovation will mean for her, especially when it comes to Bob.

“It will be really nice because with him in a wheelchair, it messes the house up. Just the wheelchair goes through and things get hit. And we don’t make enough to always fix up,” she said.

But with the bathroom now sorted out, Dianne has one less household fix to fund.

“So when I call [contractors] in I have to decide where that money is going to go, and so now I need my roof done. So that’s where that’s going first!,” she added.

“Nobody in Salisbury deserves this more than Dianne Zahn,” said McNamara, before shouting, “We love her!”

Dianne and Bob have one child together, daughter Alicia. Dianne says she has graduated college and is studying to become a counselor, hoping to one day help families of those affected by illness.