Rena raised her niece Elizabeth as her own after her sister died. Rena had cared for her, babysat for her, helped her out and been a mum to her. But last year Rena’s world collapsed, when she found out that Elizabeth was sleeping with Jed, her partner of 16 years.
Rena’s family rallied around, heartbroken, and the next night she went to a karaoke and belted out `I will survive’. And she has, a year later Rena, 43, has slimmed from a size 20 to a size 10 and is starting a fresh, while Jed and Elizabeth’s baby is due in a month’s time.

Sophie thought her life was over. Weighing 40 stone she was a virtual prisoner in her own home. Her boyfriend had become her carer and her weight meant she couldn't have the family that she'd always dreamed of.

Doctors warned her she was killing herself  but diets and tablets all failed. Surgery could kill her but she realised if she didn't then she woudl be dead anyhow.
A team at University College London agreed to carry out the risky proceedure and the gastric band was fitted.
Sophie got used to eating egg-cup size amounts and in just two years she's lost an incredible TWENTY NINE STONES in weight.


She goes to the gym three times a week and her relationship with her boyfriend is incredible.

But its even more of a dream come true. Sophie's given birth to gorgeous twins.

Sophie, who's 36, said: "Three years ago time was running out. Now I'm a different woman and my dreams have come true. I want other women to know that it’s never too late."

Claire couldn't believe it. She'd landed a job as a tour rep in Benidorm. It really was sea, sun and sangria, but the hours were long and she had to drink with the guests as part of her job - she and the other reps worked out they were drinking 16 units a night! After six months she was so ill she had to jack it all in. It took doctors another six months and an unncecesary operation to find out what was wrong - she had liver disease. Doctors warned her she could never drink again and its been a long road back to health.

When Jane spotted a stray dog while on holiday in Italy she knew she had to save his life. Now after a 50 hour train journey across Europe Bubba has made it safetly back to Britain to start his new life.

Jane describes being trapped in a train sleeper compartment with the huge dog for 15 hours solid as the worst experience of her life.
But just seeing his wagging tail and knowing she saved him from certain death makes it all worth while.

Alex stared at herself in the mirror, small and slim, she turned this way and that, but she just couldn’t ignore them, the bane of her life – her boobs.
Nicknamed `Melons’ Alex balances her size 34 J boobs on her tiny 5ft 3ins frame. They’ve blighted her life, but no one took her seriously until she made a new friend at the school gates two years ago.
Leilah was a mum like Alex, waiting for her kids too, she’d just moved to the area. The two started chatting and hit it off straight away.
Alex was having a tough time. She had no self esteem, her relationship wasn’t working and when her partner left her she ended up being hospitalised.
Leilah was there for her. She brought in fun pyjamas and a home cooked dinner every night.
With Leilah’s support Alex came out the other end. The two saw each other every day, had everything in common, talked about everything. Then at the end of last year Leilah’s marriage broke down and Alex was there for her too, got her through it. Both girls celebrated when Alex and her partner got back together, learned the lessons from their previous split.
Last month the girls sealed their friendship with identical tattoos.
Then Leilah had some news for Alex. She’d got an inheritance and wanted to give her the greatest gift of all – she was going to pay for a £5,500 boob reduction for her.
Alex has been through all the pre-ops and can’t wait to go under the knife.
Alex, who’s 30, said: “Everyone says how important friends are. Leilah has transformed my life – you really do need friends in your life.”

Cheryl and Jordan sobbed until they thought their hearts would break. They might only be seven years old, but they were in love. Now Jordan’s mummy had news that had left them devastated and she’d waited until the last day of school to tell them. Jordan’s family were moving to another town.
The two had been sweethearts since they were four years old. They’d done everything together and even shared innocent kisses.
After that no one could take the place of Jordan. Cheryl picked countless wrong blokes and still looked at the photos of her lost love wondering what had happened to him. She’d tried searching for him online but never found him.
She went on to have a son with her partner but when she fell pregnant again the relationship finally died a death. Cheryl was facing life as a single mum. Her daughter was beautiful and she and her mum arranged a christening for her in December 2010 and hired a local pub’s function room for a special get together afterwards. It was a perfect day and Cheryl and a friend popped out to the main bar to get a drink. She gazed around the bar until she stared at a bloke. It couldn’t be? It had to be? No!
She sidled around the bar for a closer look. It had to be him!
She couldn’t stop herself and went and tapped him on the back. He looked at her blankly.
“It’s Cheryl.” She said.
Suddenly the penny dropped and he just stared. They had so much to talk about, so much to say. Jordan had been passing through, had just popped in with a mate for a drink. He didn’t live or work locally.
Cheryl explained why she was there, asked him to come into the function room.
She grabbed her mum. “Guess who!” she said. Her mum just stared blankly.
“It’s Jordan.” Her mum’s face was a picture too, she just couldn’t believe it.
Jordan and Cheryl have just got engaged and are to marry next year.
Cheryl, who’s 22, said: “I last saw Jordan when he was seven but yet I recognised him straight away. I keep pinching myself to make sure it’s real and we’re never going to lose each other again.”

Marilyn was having one last cigarette and cup of tea before turning in for the night. Her partner of three years Ricky was already in bed. She lit the cigarette and popped the lighter in her dressing gown pocket. But there was a fault with the lighter and it sparked in her pocket. Seconds later she was engulfed in fire – her velvet dressing gown had exploded into flames.
Ricky heard her screams, but he’d taken his prosthetic leg off. He hopped across their flat and into the kitchen. He leapt onto her, rolling her over and over to put out the flames –he was badly burned too.
He managed to reach a phone and called 999 and they were both rushed to a specialist burns unit.
Marilyn’s burns were horrific, she’d suffered 40 per cent burns, her torso, face, arms and even her breasts had been terribly burned. She wasn’t expected to live.
Ricky had saved her life but was in hospital for two weeks. When he was released his hands were still bandaged and he couldn’t drive. They lived 30 miles from the hospital and he knew he couldn’t leave Marilyn. So he camped in their car in the hospital car park for SIX WEEKS until Marilyn was out of danger.
Marilyn was horrified at her appearance, told Ricky he should walk away from her. But he told her he loved her more than ever. They’d met when they were neighbours in London. Both had given up hope of finding love and happiness again, but it had clicked and they’d moved to their flat to make a fresh start – then this had happened.
Months of agonising skin grafts followed. Doctors also took muscle from her legs and skin from her belly to reconstruct her breast.
When Marilyn was finally released from hospital she was a shadow of herself. She’s lost the use of her left arm and has been left with terrible scars. But Ricky doesn’t see that. He rubs the special cream into her scars three times a day. He says she’s the most beautiful woman alive and is just grateful she’s still with him.
Marilyn, who’s 55, said: “I still can’t believe that my dressing gown burned me alive. If it wasn’t for Ricky and his devotion I wouldn’t be alive now.”