Girl with cerebral palsy was crushed after a salon denied her a manicure — then a bigger surprise at the door the next day left her overjoyed

Acts of inclusion play an important role in shaping a child's sense of belonging. A young girl named Nykiah with cerebral palsy was left heartbroken after a nail salon refused to give her a simple manicure at a Savannah mall. The incident was shared online by her mother, Paula Connelly, under the handle @specialneedsmommission17 and quickly garnered attention. What followed the next day was an unexpected visit from a nail technician who offered to do her nails, turning disappointment into joy. The story was reported by WTOC and shared widely after the TikTok video was posted on December 31, 2025, showing how one refusal led to a powerful response rooted in kindness.

Paula said she had taken her daughter, Nykiah, who uses a wheelchair, to a nail salon at Oglethorpe Mall so she could get her nails done for the New Year. The salon, Us Nails, declined the service, saying it would be hard to open Nykiah’s hand under the UV lamp. Paula explained that she offered to help hold her daughter’s hand steady. In her viral TikTok video, Paula spoke directly to the camera and shared the exchange. “I already polished her nails, but the lady said no,” she said. “All she wanted was her nails polished. It ain’t like she wanted fake nails, designs, and all.” When she returned to ask again, the answer was still no. She was repeatedly told the nails would “mess up.” The service was denied even after Paula stated she was fine with that and only wanted her daughter’s wish of having her nails done professionally to be fulfilled. At that moment, she knew she had to speak up against what she saw as discriminatory treatment. By the end of the clip, the mother was seen struggling to hold back tears.

The video spread quickly and reached Monica Green, the owner of Relentless Nails. Shocked by what she saw, Green decided to act. “I didn’t know you could get service denied for having a disability. I didn’t know that, so it was shocking to me,” she said. The next day, she went to the Connelly family’s home to give Nykiah a manicure herself. The visit was calm and caring. Green worked gently, adjusting to Nykiah’s needs, while the young girl smiled the entire time. “She was smiling the whole time, and she kept saying she liked it and it was pretty,” Green said. “She liked it, so that’s all that mattered.”

Paula said the support that followed was overwhelming. “It makes me and my daughter feel happy,” she said, adding that many nail technicians reached out offering to help. Nykiah’s special day did not end with her nails. She also had her hair done, making the moment feel even more complete. Paula hopes the story changes how people think about inclusion. “Just because a person is in a wheelchair or doesn’t look like you, don’t assume that they can’t get the same service that everyone else does,” she expressed.

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