Adoption pledge to dying friend

Caroline Wagstaff pictured with her young sons on a cruise

Two sisters have become mothers to their best friend's sons after she died from motor neurone disease.

Caroline Wagstaff, 44, asked Sarah Cowley and Rachel McCarthy to care for James, 11, and Aneurin, eight, when she discovered her condition.

The sisters immediately pledged to bring the boys up just as Mrs Wagstaff, from Sully, Vale of Glamorgan, wanted.

Mrs Wagstaff had no immediate family in the UK to look after her sons after their father's death three years ago.

She was diagnosed with the incurable motor neurone disease - which causes muscle wastage and problems with speech, swallowing and breathing - just 10 months later.

The sisters promised to bring the brothers up as their mother wanted

The sisters, who had been close to Mrs Wagstaff for 15 years, explained how she was told of her prognosis at one of their regular meetings for coffee and cake.

Care assistant Mrs McCarthy, 37, a mother-of-four and grandmother of one from Barry, recalled: "She told us there was some good news and bad news.

"The good news was that the doctors knew what was wrong with her - the bad news was there was nothing they could do.

"I started crying and she pointed her finger at me and said 'Don't you dare'".

Mrs McCarthy and 32-year-old sister, who has two teenage children, are now taking steps to legally adopt the orphaned brothers.

She knew they loved us and she knew we will bring them up the way she wanted Rachel McCarthy

Mrs Cowley said they told their friend there were "no ifs or buts" when she asked them to be guardians to her boys.

"She died knowing they were going to be safe," she said. "There's not a lot of money in our homes but there's a lot of love."

Last September, Mrs Wagstaff moved her sons in with their new families - James to Mrs Cowley and Aneurin to her older sister, who lives nearby in Barry.

"It was like a load had been lifted off Caroline," explained Mrs McCarthy.

"She died in peace without worrying where her sons are going.

"The great thing is that because Sarah and I are sisters, we are one big happy family.

Mrs Wagstaff moved hers sons in with her friends as she weakened

"Between my lot and Sarah's lot, there are so many of us. They'll see each other every day and always have someone to talk to.

"She knew they loved us and she knew we will bring them up the way she wanted."

James and Aneurin are now helping with the preparations for their mother's funeral on Thursday.

She requested a party rather than a wake and asked mourners not to wear black.

Mrs McCarthy said: "She wanted it to be as jolly as possible for the boys."

Her sister added:" She was a happy-go-lucky person. We are going to go give with her wishes and give her what she wanted."