'I'm lucky to have them all,' says Kirsty; Meet the ASDA make-over winning mum and her family.

Byline: Hilarie Stelfox

THE winners of our pounds 500 George at ASDA fashion make-over competition - members of the Greaves family from Fixby - went along to the Bradley store to choose outfits for their photoshoot and tell their story. Hilarie Stelfox reports

Greaves. During that time the 40-year-old phlebotomist, who works at Calderdale Royal, has been in and out of hospital as a patient and she still has ongoing health problems.

Her baby son Henry, who is 18 months old, has also been hospitalised on two occasions. "It's been very rough for all of us," says Kirsty, who has been on sick leave for the past two years. She describes her two older children, Kristie, 18, and Charlie, 15, as "amazingly supportive." Kirsty's run of bad luck began five years before Henry's arrival when she was diagnosed with benign intercranial hypertension. The condition meant that she had to have two brain operations and a number of painful lumbar puncture procedures. Even her pregnancy with Henry did not go according to plan.

"I had severe pregnancy sickness and he was delivered four weeks early by an emergency Caesarian section.

"Then the wound didn't heal and I got an infection," explained Kirsty.

When he was just a few weeks old, Henry also developed an infection, in his feet, and had to be taken into hospital for an operation to remove some of his toenails.

Then just 12 weeks after the birth, Kirsty began to have abdominal pains, which were diagnosed as gallstones.

"I had an operation to remove them and that operation resulted in a hernia, for which I had to have another operation," she said.

During her long ordeal Kirsty struck up a friendship with the events co-ordinator at ASDA, Sue Shaw, who nominated her for the pounds 500 prize make-over and says she could think of no more deserving winner.

"I am a customer at the store and just through going there regularly I got to know Sue. She noticed when I wasn't well and I always talked to her," said Kirsty.

Sue commented: "We talk as women do and I found out some of the things that she's gone through. I just thought that she deserved a break."

Kirsty's illnesses have led to a long absence from work but she is hoping that she'll soon be able to return to the colleagues and job that she misses. For the past year, however, she's been heavily dependent on help from her daughter Kristie, who took a year out from her education, to help care for her mum and baby Henry.

"I couldn't have managed without her, although I have a fantastic family who have given me a lot of help," said Kirsty.

"Both Kristie and Charlie are fantastic with Henry and he loves them. Kristie is like a second mum to him. I'm very lucky to have them all." At the moment Kristie, who took business studies at Rastrick High School, is working part time as a shop assistant but has long-term plans to become a driving instructor.

Charlie, who is still a pupil at Rastrick, wants to study sports at Huddersfield New College. He's a keen footballer and runner, playing for Rastrick Juniors.

Part of the family's prize included a hair and make-up session for Kirsty and Kristie with freelance beauty therapist Jessica Goodall (www.jessicag.tv). Each then chose an outfit for the photoshoot.

"I'm sure there are more deserving people than me," said Kirsty, who was overwhelmed to be nominated.

But we were only too happy to hand her the prize package, which will mean the whole family can have a summer spending spree and stock up on new outfits.

CAPTION(S):

* MAKE-OVER: Make-up artist Jessica Goodall (above) applies beautiful finishing touches to Kristie while (left) 18-month-old Henry is looking cute in his ASDA outfit, dungarees and T-shirt, priced pounds 8. And (below) Henry gets a loving hug from his mum Kirsty Greaves. * WINNING SMILES: Asda make-over winning family (left to right) Kirsty Greaves, her sons Charlie and Henry and daughter Kristie (AC060709Cmake-02.jpg)