AFTER overcoming a number of tragedies Kim Buckley was delighted to finally be bringing her new grandchild home. RUTH MANSFIELD reports on the strong woman who tried so hard to hold her family together - only to lose her life to a vicious killer.

ON September 17, 2012, Kim Buckley sat in Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital crying with pure happiness after being told her six-month-old grand- daughter was finally coming home.

Since the arrival of baby Kimberley. who suffered from a number of medical problems. Ms Buckley, 46, had been at the hospital every day willing for her grandchild to become well enough to be taken home.

Now. her wish had finally been granted and she was ready to start a new chapter of life at home with her new grandaughter and daughter Kayleigh.

Her partner of 10 years, David Parker, who described Ms Buckley as "his life", told the jury in the trial of Carl Mills about the day he had gone to the hospital when Kimberley was being brought home.

He said: "Kim was sat there with the baby in her arms bawling her eyes out. I said: "What's the matter''" and she said "She's coming home".

For Ms Buckley, it was a moment of happiness in a life that had been through a number of heartbreaking tragedies.

After giving birth to twin boys Shaun and Leigh in April 1990. Ms Buckley lost Leigh to a lung illness shortly after his birth. Shaun, now the only surviving child of Is Buckley, is now 23.

Ms Buckley gave birth to a third son David in June 1992. But a carbon monoxide poisoning accident led to the death of David in February 1994.

Kayleigh was born in December 1994.

Despite the heartbreak she had been through, Ms Buckley had a caring nature and was a good friend to many.

Colleague Cari Harris, who worked with Ms Buckley as a cleaner at Cwmbran's Primark store, said: "She was the most caring person ever.

She just saw the best in everyone.

She added: "She was the mother hen. She took everyone under her wing. If anyone needed anything, she was always there for support."

But there was one person of whom Ms Buckley didn't approve.

After finding out about the relationship between her daughter Kayleigh. then 15, and Mills she did what she could to try to end the relationship and did not approve of the age gap.

But as the relationship developed and scared that she would lose her daughter, she then tried to give Mills the benefit of the doubt and bring him into the family.

When Kayleigh fell pregnant with twins, despite Mr Parker saying it had been a "big shock".

Ms Buckley quickly adapted to her new- role as a grandmother.

After Kayleigh went into labour at 24 weeks and five days, babv Angel was tragically stillborn.

Baby Kimberley, born on March 10, survived but suffered a number of health issues including a heart problem, trouble with feeding and also needed oxygen.

Ms Buckley would be at the hospital every day willing her granddaughter to get better and medical staff spoke highly in court of Ms Buckley and the care she provided for her family.

Neonatal liaison nurse at the hospital. Fran Harries, described her character as "excellent" and said that Ms Buckley undertook all the training needed and was prepared to look for legal guardianship of the baby.

The last words Ms Buckley said to Mrs Harries on the day Kimberley was discharged from hospital were: "I really am a grandma, she's actually home."

Neonatal nursery nurse, Jane Powell said: "She was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. All she wanted was for Kayleigh to be a good mum."

Ms Buckley's excitement at her new granddaughter coming home was also evident on social networking site Facebook where she had written. 'Welcome home our darling Kimberley' along with a picture of the baby and the words: "Yes, it's true.

I'm coming home".

The house, on Ms Buckley's orders, had been decorated with banners and balloons ready for the latest addition to the family to be brought home.

Prior to the trial, family and friends also spoke about the excitement and pride of Ms Buckley about her new granddaughter coming home.

In a family tribute. Ms Buckley was described as a "vibrant, proud mother and proud nanny".

Speaking about the day baby Kimberlev was coining home from the hospital, the tribute simply said. "She was the happiest grandmother in the world."