GRAND PRAIRIE — A Grand Prairie teacher fighting cancer was pampered with gratitude after an awkward moment led one of her students to reach out to his mother.

Peggy Gragg is so dedicated to her students, she refused to stop teaching while enduring cancer treatment.

"I needed to not have that ruin my year or my kids' year," she said. "I didn't want them to remember their fifth grade year as the year the teacher had cancer."

Mrs. Gragg took off work to undergo chemotherapy treatments two days a week, but continued teaching three days a week.

"I wanted to have as little disruption with my kids," she said. "By my kids I mean my class, which is one reason I started to wear the wig right away."

But kids will be kids, and many found it hard not to giggle when Mrs. Gragg's wig fell off one day while she was teaching.

"Her wig fell off and everyone was about to laugh, but our principal was there," said Nathan Luong, one of Mrs. Gragg's students. "So, I was the only one who helped her up."

That day, Luong went to his mother, Tiffiny, and told her about what happened to his teacher. He also asked her if there was anything they could do to help the teacher who had even postponed her breast reconstruction surgery until the end of the school year.

That was when Mrs. Luong decided it was time to give back to Mrs. Gragg and present her with a day of pampering.

Mrs. Luong once owned a hair salon and spa, which put Mrs. Gragg in good hands as she received a facial for the first time in 15 years.

"I wanted to pamper you so long because you have been teaching my kid," she told Mrs. Gragg. "So, this is my thank-you to you."

The grateful mother also gave the teacher a full day of much-needed spa treatment and arranged for a full makeover.

Then, Mrs. Gragg was given a custom-made wig made of human hair, worth thousands of dollars.

"I know I can speak for Tiffany when I say it gives us great joy to be able to do this," said Tina Yanik, as she cut and styled the wig.

The teacher, who is well-known by her students for wearing blue jeans and T-shirts, strolled in a day after her makeover with a whole new look and wardrobe.

"Chemo is very tiring, and I'm sure there are days when I drug in looking like warmed-over oatmeal," Mrs. Gragg said.

Students applauded the new look and shared their happiness.

"She just really needed it," said Alec Happel, one of Mrs. Gragg's students. "She just deserved it because I know people who fought cancer in the past, and it's not an easy thing to do."

"It's a great way to end a year," said Chase Roger, another student. "That way she can start off next year and have a great life."

As the students got a good look at her new look, Mrs. Luong presented Mrs. Gragg with two armfuls of new clothes.

"Thank you so much," Mrs. Gragg said. "Hopefully, my children will learn a lesson in what it means to give back."

Mrs. Luong became so inspired after giving Mrs. Gragg a makeover that she is putting on a beauty seminar for cancer patients called "Image Solution: Recapturing Your Beauty." The free seminar will be on May 28 at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders located at 800 West Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth.

A cancer spa called the Beauty Wellness & Spa will open in early June. It will be located at 2505 East Arkansas Lane, Suite 117, in Arlington.

E-mail ddenmon@wfaa.com