When IJ was born her spine was slightly curved and things didn't seem quite right.
At four months I was told that she was unlikely to ever walk or talk.
It was a dismal time, my world completely fell apart.
I went out for a drink with a friend to calm down and take in the devastating news. A lady came round collecting for children with disabilities; I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Following that dreadful day, when the prognosis looked so bleak, I did a lot of crying. There was very little laughter.
Life continued like that for a very long time, and I was bringing up IJ on my own.
But the two of us persevered. IJ was given a special seat which I had to strap her into each day to help straighten her spine, and she had lots of physio and she slowly began to gain her strength.
She's now five year old. She walks and talks just the same as any other child her age.
Last week her paediatrician gave her the all-clear. She no longer has anything wrong with her. She no longer walks around with any sort of label. She is perfectly 'normal'.
Today we played in the park and enjoyed the warmer weather. And as I watched her running round, faster than me most of the time, I remembered those dismal days when I never thought I'd see her do this, and I could have cried with relief.
So when Mother's Day comes round tomorrow, I'll be beaming with pride at my gorgeous little girl.
We got there in the end, and it's been worth every minute.
