Growing up, Claire McFadden always knew she was different. She suffered with learning difficulties and was bullied by her schoolmates- causing her to lash out at her mum, Linda, in frustration.
Shockingly, Claire's problems were a direct result Linda’s alcohol addiction while pregnant. The mum-to-be would down up to eight cans of lager a day.
It meant Claire was diagnosed with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) at birth- an incurable condition that causes mental and physical defects.
Now 20, Claire still suffers from learning difficulties and behavioural problems, but says she has forgiven her mum.
Claire - who lives in Richmond, Surrey - says: “I still live at home and need help doing everyday things, like sorting out my finances. I struggle to remember things.
I’ve flooded the bathroom twice because I’ve forgotten I’m running a bath and I often forget to reply to emails at my work, where I'm a PA for a limo company.”
Claire, who has an older sister Sarah, 25, younger brother, 10, and eight-year-old sister, all unaffected by FAS, adds: “Having FAS ruined my childhood because I felt so angry.
I thought Mum mustn’t have loved me to drink while pregnant. But now I know how guilty she feels and I’ve learnt to forgive her.”
Read more in Closer, out this week.