SUPERMUM Helen Dixon has been praised by her family for continuing to care for her community despite suffering several serious illnesses.

Her son John contacted the Free Press in the week before Mother's Day to say how proud he is of her.

Mrs Dixon, 54, of Grove Lane, Chalfont St Peter, is currently in Churchill Hospital, Oxford, recovering from a kidney transplant. She was diagnosed seven years ago with the same condition her mother had died of seven years earlier, called Polycistic kidneys (failure of both kidneys).

Mrs Dixon has had several operations as well as a home dialysis course.

But she has still managed to care for parishioners at Goldhill Baptist Church, in Chalfont St Peter, the elderly at a residential home and her family which also includes Mark, 18, and her husband David.

John said: "I have visited mum several times in hospital and she's looking great. Looking at all the cards in her room from family members, friends and people within the church, it is obvious they see the same person as I do."

He said that during a scan several years ago, a brain tumour was discovered, and although it was non-cancerous, his mother was unable to drive for a year afterwards.

John added: "Despite us asking her to take it easy for a while, she returned to what she loves doing which is looking after the elderly at the Leonard Cheshire Home in Gerrards Cross. Everyday she would cycle to and from the home even in the rain, whilst getting the shopping on the back of her bike.

"Although she already knows this, we would just like to say: 'Mum we love you and we wouldn't swap you with anyone else'."