Hard times turn to gold for Keilor Downs mother

Photo: Luke Hemer

Catherine Garcia is piecing her life back together after a trying few years … but her crowning moment may just be at hand.

After losing her mother to leukaemia in 2012 then battling with her own cancer and ongoing self-esteem issues, the Keilor Downs mother has been named a grand finalist in the Miss Diamond Australia pageant to be held in Brisbane next year.

Through the pageant, she’ll be raising awareness and fundraising for Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia, a service that provided essential help during her own postnatal anxiety after the birth of her “miracle” baby, Ruby, in January last year.

Ruby was conceived between cancer treatments.

“No matter what you endure in life you can always make your own highlights,” she said.