DEVOTED grandparents Anthony and Pamela Mandry are planning a Christmas to remember after enduring a year tinged with sadness and pain.
The doting couple have planned their festivities down to the last detail in a bid to make it as special as possible for their cherished grandchildren Casey and Joshua Cool.
They feel they have all come a long way since the dreadful events of July last year, when baby Joshua was severely assaulted by his heroin-addict father, Paul Cool, at only two weeks old.
Doctors told the family to expect the worst as Joshua remained unconscious for weeks after suffering massive head injuries and cigarette burns.
Although he pulled through, the little boy, now 18 months, has been left almost blind, severely brain-damaged and unable to progress as he should.
He is unlikely to walk or ever do things for himself.
He cannot show the same emotions as other children and needs 24-hour care from his maternal grandparents.
But upbeat Mr and Mrs Mandry, of Lancaster Road, Hartlepool, who have officially adopted the children, said both Joshua and Casey, three, were now settled and happy and excited for the festive holidays.
"We are really looking forward to Christmas this year because this is Joshua's first real Christmas," said Mr Mandry, 43.
"Last Christmas, Joshua was very ill still and was in hospital. We spent all Christmas day at hospital with him.
"This year, nothing is going to spoil it. Both of the kids are doing great, and while Joshua will always have a lot of problems, we wouldn't change a thing. We love them both to bits."
And Mrs Mandry said Casey was a lot more outgoing and expressive now, after being withdrawn for sometime after the terrible events of last summer. They said she had fewer nightmares these days.
Mrs Mandry said: "She has opened up a lot and is a very happy little girl. She is still a bit wary of men, probably because of the violence she used to see at home, but she is relaxed and bright.
"It was hard in the beginning for us all, but we are in a good routine now. I feel we have all helped each along so much."
In March this year, 23-year-old Cool was jailed for seven years at Teesside Crown Court after admitting the "abhorrent" attack on his newborn son.
The children's mother, Lynsey Mandry, 22, was sentenced to nine months, suspended for two years, after admitting an act intending to pervert the course of justice after she initially lied for her partner.
But even now, Mr and Mrs Mandry get angry at Cool's sentence, which they believe was far too short.
And they plan to fight against any legal rights Cool may have to see the children once he is released from prison.
Despite what he did, he still has some parental rights over Joshua.
The grandparents said they were dismayed when Christmas cards arrived for each of the children from Cool last week, stating that he loved and missed them both.
Inside he wrote: "I hope Santa brings you everything you want. All my love, hugs and kisses, Daddy."
Mrs Mandry, also 43, said: "Santa will never be able to bring Joshua and Casey what they really want for Christmas, which is that this terrible thing never happened.
"Cool acts as though nothing ever happened - almost like he is working away from home. But Joshua will have to live with what he did for the rest of his life.
"But, we are going to make Christmas as special as we can for them, and Santa is going to be very good to them both. These children deserve the very best that we can give them."
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