WHEN tragedy struck Kathy Mason three times in the space of three years, she became determined to fight back and do something positive.
Now, as a foster mum, Kathy has helped bring cheer to 15 children battling through difficult times. And she has also opened her home – and her heart – to little India, who has Down's Syndrome, and tomorrow celebrates her sixth birthday as well as Christmas Day.
India first gazed up at Kathy when she was seven weeks old.
Adopted
Her parents could not take care of her, so Kathy, 57, stepped in to help.
She then adopted the little girl.
The Winchcombe mum said she was splitting the day to mark both occasions. "India is really excited about Christmas and her birthday.
"She wants a twin pram and twin baby dolls to push around," she said.
"In the morning we will have Christmas, and then in the afternoon we will have a birthday tea for India.
"She is always on Santa's good list. She is a little treasure."
"We also celebrate her birthday on June 25 each year, so she has her own special day. So she is like the Queen with two birthdays."
India is bursting with excitement for tomorrow's double celebration.
She said: "I have sent my letter to Santa and I got a letter back.
"He said I have been very good all year.
"I like that I share my birthday with baby Jesus."
India goes to Winchcombe Abbey Primary School and Kathy said the team there had been fantastic.
"She has brilliant support at school and she is coping really well with regular school," she said.
Caring
Kathy has been fostering children for 13 years, and is currently caring for a 15-year-old girl named Chelsea.
She is also the full-time carer of her brother Tony, 55, who suffered severe brain injuries in a lorry crash in 1986.
Kathy also has two children and three grandchildren, and the family will gather at her daughter Zenna's home in Tewkesbury tomorrow.
Earlier this year Kathy was one of three people shortlisted for the national Carer of the Year award.
She devoted her life to caring after being hit with tragedy after tragedy after tragedy, when her mum, husband and dad all died in the space of three years.
Her mum Margaret died from lung cancer in 1995, her husband Richard was just 51 when he also died from lung cancer in 1997, and her grief-stricken father Ted took his own life in 1998.
Two years after her husband died, Kathy decided to begin fostering, and she has taken care of around 15 children over the years.
She said: "It was a sink or swim situation for me – I could either fall apart or do something positive, so I decided to start fostering.
"I've always been someone who enjoys helping others, being active and taking on new challenges and I knew I needed to be more than Tony's carer."
She added: "I'm just glad that I've been able to help children over the years, and I feel lucky that I'm able to give Chelsea and India a nice Christmas."
