By J J Anisiobi
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At the height of her drug addiction Danniella Westbrook would have happily given away her son.
However, the former EastEnders actress was not acting selfishly and admits that she would only have handed her little boy over to social services for his benefit.
The 39-year-old former heroin addict has been clean for the last 12 years and believes that helping vulnerable children is her true calling in life.
Desperate times: Daniella Westbrook, pictured earlier this month, admitted that when she was addicted to drugs she would have happily given away her son
Speaking to The Sun newspaper, she said: 'My friends say to me, 'Could you really take someone's kid and bring it up and then give it back?' And I say yes, because if someone had offered to take my son away from me when I was really ill, I would have grabbed the chance with both hands.
'I wanted social services to take him but they told me they couldn’t help.'
Danniella, who is a born again Christian, and her husband Kevin are applying to become foster carers after years of trying for another child.
Good heart: Danniella, pictured with two of her children Kai and Jodie in 2003, now wants to help foster children from drug and alcohol abuse homes
Mummy's little boy: The 39-year-old former heroin addict has been clean for the last 12 years and believes that helping vulnerable children is her true calling in life
Despite already having Kevin's daughter Jordan, 18, Danniella's son Kai, 16, and their one child together, Jodie, 11, they still tried for another kid but to no avail.
The couple never tried using IVF but accepted that they already have a great family unit, so now they hoping to help troubled children out instead.
Danniella, who will return to UK screens in Hollyoaks later this month, is particularly keen to foster those youngsters who come from drug and alcohol abuse homes, but insists she wouldn't want to split up siblings.
She told the newspaper: 'They might come with a lot of anger and issues but we're at an age where we can cope with it. It’s something we really want to do.'
Sad times: Danniella's nose was worn away in 2001 after years of substance abuse, but she still hopes to be a foster carer
With the many security checks that potential foster carers must go through, Westbrook is massively worried about her own past.
She had to have her nose rebuilt after years of substance abuse destroyed it and she was also diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.
However, the former soap star is hopeful that after taking a fostering course and having her bi-polar under control she will get approved to foster.
Danniella told the newspaper: 'The country is crying out for more foster carers. It will be the hardest job in the world, but it will be the best job in the world too.'
Showtime: Danniella made her name as Sam Mitchell in EastEnders, but will return to screens in Hollyoaks this month
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