Son will never realise that he saved me by being born
FAMILY BOND Liz and Harry
LOOKING at her eight-year-old son Harry, Liz Badcock knows she’ll never be able to thank him for everything he’s done for her.
Eight years ago, the fulltime-mum was battling a heavy drink-and-drug addiction, downing two litres of vodka a day.
She was on the brink of death. After years of believing she couldn’t have children, Liz’s shock pregnancy was the motivation she needed to get life back on track.
Liz, 46, of Corsham, Wilts, says: “I totally believe that Harry saved my life. If it wasn’t for him then I wouldn’t be here today.
“Harry will never know what he’s done for my life. Even when he’s older, I don’t think he’ll comprehend that he’s given me a second chance.”
Liz can’t pinpoint what started her self-destruction but says she has an “addictive personality”.
She had her first drink at 11, drank heavily as a teen and by her early twenties was prescribed diazepam for panic attacks. She even attempted suicide. At 26 Liz met Phil, an IT manager. They moved in together after three months but Liz always kept her addictions a secret.
Phil only discovered the problem after their wedding in 2003, but failed IVF in 2008 sent Liz spiralling further. She says: “That was the final nail in the coffin. I felt useless.”
Liz drank herself into a stupor and lost her job. And, 11 months later, Phil convinced her to go to rehab.
Liz says of the time she fell pregnant: “I cared more about this unborn child than I’d ever cared about myself.”
Liz has been sober since Harry was born on June 26, 2012.
She has split from Phil but says: “We’re still friendly. I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.”