FORT PIERCE — After a lifetime of self-sacrifice for her children, Karen Winn is finally being shown just how much her daughter loves and appreciates her – with a total makeover thanks to a local contest designed to reward mothers who gave everything for their families.

The first Ultimate Mom Makeover Contest, held in early June, gave a deserving St. Lucie County mother $20,000 worth of makeover rewards.

Winn, 54, who was chosen from 100 entries, will reveal her new look during the Labor Day St. Lucie Mets game.

All it took to win the contest was for Winn's daughter, Aimee Uhlir, who learned about the contest by reading TCPalm.com, to submit a compelling letter about her mother.

"Everything we went through growing up, she sacrificed so much for me and my brother," Uhlir, 29, said. "She put us first and never had money to do anything for herself she put everything into me and my brother and let herself fall to pieces with her health and her dental, that all came second to me and my brother."

Winn, who has struggled with what Uhlir calls "temporary labor jobs" to keep food on the table, is also battling ovarian cancer.

"I came down with the cancer five months after losing my medical insurance," Winn said.

Winn has lost five family members to the disease in the past four years, and has been in remission only for about 18 months, Uhlir said.

Uhlir watched her mother struggle and felt helpless. To lift her mom's spirits, she got busy writing, she said.

"She thought she was a bad mom, but I think she did a great job because me and my brother turned out successful," said Uhlir, who is expecting her first child next month. "We don't have issues, we aren't drug addicts or whatever, so I intend to use what she taught me to raise my kids."

Winn said she had to listen to the voice mail announcing her win three times before she would call the number back. "I didn't know Aimee had entered."

Winn will have a mini face-lift Friday at Lee Plastic Surgery. She is a bit nervous about it, but "other women have said they'd go for it, so I guess I am, too," she said.

Winn has also had her teeth cleaned at SAH Dentistry, and is looking forward to new veneers, she said.

But first and foremost in her mind is the arrival of her grandchild.

"I don't know why I won, but I am really glad I did for Aimee's sake," Winn said. "So she'll be proud of me when they take pictures of me and the baby, but I'm trying to get a baby shower together for her, too."

Dr. Darell Lee, the plastic surgeon who will be working on Winn, said, "She's a good looking woman who, with some small adjustments, will look better," he said. "It's a combination of trying to get her to look her best physically, and also in doing so, will help her feel her best mentally."

In addition to the cosmetic dentistry and mini face-lift, Winn's prize includes a day of pampering at Vivid Hair Design And Spa, optometry services from Dr. Alan H. Siegel, a piece of jewelry from Jay's Fine Jewelry, and a relaxing weekend at The Hampton Inn St. Lucie West along with a night of fun at a St. Lucie Mets Game.

Second place contest winner, Dawn June, 44, of Port St. Lucie, receives cosmetic facial peel, teeth whitening and a hair makeover; placing third is Micaela Lara, 34, of Port St. Lucie, who receives a hair makeover and one night at the Hampton Inn Suites in St. Lucie West.