FINALLY, I received the phone call Gordon and I had been waiting for. The International Eating Disorder Centre (IEDC) in Aylesbury was offering Lara a year's residency, writes Ruth Wadey, of Yew Tree Close, Pennsylvania, Exeter.

I felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders as now she would be somebody else's responsibility. No longer would I have to be the one to check she was alive each and every morning. The memory of her thin white face looking pleadingly at me through the window as we drove away from the IEDC is one that will always be with me.

When we arrived home the first message on the answer phone was one from Lara, demanding to know why we had dumped her there and why did we not want her at home. I was physically exhausted and emotionally drained and cried myself to sleep.

Lara hated being at the IEDC and hated us for making her stay. Some nights I would have to put the answer phone on as I could not cope with her daily phone calls pleading to come home. The miracle was that she did not run away as she had threatened to do so many times.

Nearing the end of her stay at the IEDC they gave her the freedom to explore Aylesbury and she was able to help the new residents which in turn helped her to understand how far she had come. She also developed a passion for helping other people.

At the end of her treatment she attended an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting, met a stranger who invited her to his place to take heroin. She accepted and what Ross had dreaded most happened. She overdosed.

Fortunately the stranger had the presence of mind to phone 999 but at the hospital she died. Later she told me that she had a split second to decide whether she wanted to live or die. Thankfully she decided to live and slid back into her body. That was the moment she vowed never to touch heroin again, and she never has to this day.

Two months later she phoned with the news that she was pregnant. Considering the small likelihood of this happening, my emotions changed from initial shock to one of elation. I was so pleased for her as I knew what a wonderful mother she would make.

Lara had a wonderful pregnancy with no morning sickness, which for a bulimic was a real bonus. I was delighted to see that her unborn baby helped her to keep off drink and drugs, as well as having a healthy balanced diet for the full nine months.

On the November 5, 2004, Tamzin, her beautiful daughter, was born. I couldn't wait to see them both and walking into the maternity unit I saw a radiant Lara. We both sobbed with joy as we ran towards each other and that was the moment she allowed me to give her the hug that I had longed to do for so long. It was a special moment, and one I will always cherish.

There were those who thought she would be incapable of being a good mother, including her partner Simon, but she proved them all wrong!

She persisted in her battle with her self-destructive behaviour and with the patient help from Roger, her pastoral counsellor from the IEDC, and from her family, she finally became strong enough to come off benefits and obtain employment.

Two years later she took up running, which helped turn her life around.

Running forced her to take vitamins in place of sleeping tablets and anti-depressants, water in favour of alcohol, and the necessary nutrition rather than boiled sweets. It has also provided her with positive friends.

The pinnacle of her running was completing the 2009 London Marathon in just over four hours.

As I watched her checking her watch at the finish line she looked up, caught my eye and gave me such a wide bright smile. Her beautiful eyes were sparkling with joy. My daughter was back. I felt on top of the world and was sure that I was the proudest mother there.

I do not believe that any person or incident was to blame for Lara's condition. Every treatment centre, every counselling session and every journal entry, was a step in the right direction.

Lara's recovery took many years but today she is able to love herself, takes delight in seeing others succeed and has developed a unique gift for understanding and helping other people with their struggles.

Lara has become the person she is today because of the path she has travelled. As her mother I did my best, but sometimes I acknowledge that it was not good enough. I have had to face up to my mistakes and have apologised to Lara for them.

Lara has had the pleasure of being invited back to the IEDC to share her story, has had two poems published, has been interviewed on BBC radio, and has had many articles written about her.

She plans to write a book about her story which I know will not only inspire addicts and their fam lies but will also facilitate practitioners working with those who have mental health issues.