Christine McGuinness

Growing up, I grew up in Hailwood in Liverpool, which is a council estate.

And life was very simple.

We didn't have a lot, but we were quite happy.

And it was just my mum at home with me, my brother and sister.

So she was a single parent.

We didn't have an awful lot, but she managed to just make the house a home.

Do you think you've learned a lot from your mum growing up?

Oh yeah, definitely.

My mum really makes me believe that everything will be fine.

Even throughout my divorce, throughout my diagnosis, throughout my children's diagnosis.

When I think about my mum and how she managed with three children on her own, but she had nothing.

I think, okay, if she can do it, I can.

Yeah, but equally the love is the same.

I had love from my mum and I had happiness of what I knew of what was there.

Because your dad left at quite an early age, didn't he?

Yeah.

So my dad, he was around till, I think it was before my first birthday.

My mum and dad separated.

Yeah.

And then from then, my mum raised me on her own.