Mum’s regret at her drug addiction

Part-time carer Janet said: “I vowed when I saw him graduate from nursery that I would do whatever it took to get him to university.

“But I never thought he would grow up to become a dentist.

“My daughter made her choices in life and no one forced her to take drugs.

“Her drug addiction has not stopped me loving her but I had to do the right thing and take Jordan away.”

Janet, 67, worked tirelessly in part-time jobs with hours to suit being there for Jordan.

She and her partner John, 66, a joiner, and Jordan’s aunt, Donna, were there for parents’ days at his high school.

And they beamed with pride when he passed his exams with flying colours.

Glasgow University school beckoned.

Last month he came third in a prestigious competition set by the Royal College of Surgeons and Dentists of Edinburgh.

It won him an affiliate membership of the esteemed institution.

Jordan is keen not to forget his working-class roots and wants to

dental return to the area as community dentist.

He said: “I was terrified of dentists as a child, but I got one who put me at ease.

“I decided there and then I wanted to become a dentist when I grew up.”

Beaming with pride, Jordan’s proud gran can’t wait for graduation day.

Janet said: “It will be just wonderful to see him graduate. He’s a credit to us all.

“I will watch him walk up and think of everything it’s taken to get him there.

“I am not the only gran who has had to step in to bring up a child and I know there are others who have been wonderful. It’s not easy but you do what you have to.”

Jordan added: “My gran and aunt have been planning my graduation day for years, pretty much since I started studying dentistry.

“The outfits have been picked for a while and there’s going to be a big party.

“There’s been a lot of sacrifices, but it’s been worth it, and we’ll make the most of the celebration.” JORDAN’S mum Caroline revealed her regret at allowing drugs to ruin her relationship with her son.

The 40-year-old said: “My life was far from ideal and I lost Jason.

“If I had been born a few years earlier drugs wouldn’t have been so freely available.

“I met Jordan’s dad and got in with the wrong company. I began taking drugs.

“It started with smoking heroin and I ended up injecting it. I came off and went back on several times.

“But I have been clean for five months and am coming off through medication.

“Throughout it all I never stopped loving Jordan. I don’t know if life would have been different if he had stayed with me.

“But I am so proud of what he has done. I can only thank everyone who helped him get there. I hugely regret I wasn’t a better mum.”

Jordan’s achievement has also been praised by the University of Glasgow hierarchy.

Professor Jeremy Bagg, head of the University’s dental school, said: “Jordan is an excellent example of a young person who has benefited from the University of Glasgow’s efforts to widen participation in higher education from across the social and economic spectrum.

“We have been privileged to have him as a student and we are sure that he’ll go on to have a fulfilling career.”