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A transgender parent said this Christmas was to be extra special after having the full op to transition into a woman.

Three years ago, Bob Wallace, 51, was a bodyguard and made the brave decision to tell wife, Joanne, 44, a call centre clerk and son William, nine, that she wanted to start living as a woman - Roxy.

Amazingly, both her wife and son accepted the shocking decision - and Roxy tells how her transformation made her closer with their son.

Now, after three years of living as Roxy, in October, she underwent a four hour gender reassignment surgery and a breast augmentation on the NHS, spent her first Christmas as a real woman.

What’s more, Roxy tells how she’s gone shopping for clothes with Jo, but claims they never share clothes are completely different sizes and styles.

Incredibly, Roxy, from Churchtown Gloucester, and Jo are now in a lesbian relationship and William has ‘two mums’.

Roxy said: “It has been an emotional rollercoaster and it’s a huge thing to go through as a family. I’ve never felt happier.

(Image: SWNS)

“Unwrapping the bandages was better than unwrapping any present under the tree. The final result has brought tears to my eyes – I’m finally happy with who I am.”

In November 1989, Bob, then 23, met Jo and the couple entered into a 27 year relationship.

Bob, then a bodyguard, secretly thought about cross-dressing, but pushed this to the back of his mind and married Jo who thought it was just an odd fantasy.

However, Bob struggled with depression and became a recluse, never wanting to leave the house.

In 2006, the couple went on to have their son, William, now nine and Bob became a stay at home dad.

Roxy said: “I shrugged off any thoughts of cross-dressing fantasies and tried to get on with my life.

“I was happy with Jo and loved being a full time dad to William.”

Unfortunately Bob struggled to suppress his feelings and in October 2013, he made the hard decision to talk to Jo.

She said: “It wasn’t the easiest conversation to have, but Jo has always been a kind and understanding woman. She listened to me and began to understand my pain.”

Incredibly, seeing how miserable Bob was made her see past his decision and fully support him.

(Image: SWNS)

The couple went shopping for a new wardrobe and even started going to nightclubs together as a lesbian couple.

He began to take female hormones purchased from the internet and in July 2014, Bob said goodbye to his name and became Roxanna, ‘Roxy’ by deed poll.

She said: “It’s been a very long road to get to where we are now. Each step we have taken has been a test of guts and our relationship.

“But Jo has been my rock and an incredibly supportive person.”

In September 2014, Roxy was referred to Laurels gender clinic in Exeter and placed on prescribed hormones.

Roxy was also put on the waiting list for the full gender reassignment operation.

The full operation, along with breast augmentation was to be covered by the NHS - costing around £17,000.

She said: “When we told William he was so supportive. He took the news well and even refers to me as ‘Mummy Roxy.’

(Image: SWNS)

“I’m so proud of him and it makes me so happy that he is proud of me.

“When I was Bob, William was so closed off but now he calls me “mummy Roxy” and is so much more affectionate and cuddly. I feel so blessed to have such a fantastic family.

“William loves my new lease of life and has no desire for ‘grumpy daddy’ to return.”

In October 2015, the wait was over and Roxy went under the knife at Nuffield hospital in Brighton, saying goodbye to Bob forever.

After two months of recovery and being bandaged up, Roxy is finally happy.

Roxy said: “It’s been an emotional journey and most people would think Jo was mad for staying with me. But it’s the inside that counts and we love each other more than ever.

“She has been by my side the whole way through and was there when I woke up from my operation.

“Going through the full procedure is not a decision anyone should take lightly, but I knew it’s what I wanted to do. I had spent far too long suppressing Roxy.”

(Image: SWNS)

This Christmas was the first time Roxy has ever fully felt like herself.

She said: “It was wonderful. It was a double celebration and the best present I could ever have asked for.

“I was an emotional wreck when I looked down at my new body – I can’t begin to describe how happy I am.

“We have not once considered breaking up our family, it just happened that this is who I really am.

“For the first time ever I can finally be me. I can’t wait to celebrate every Christmas as a proper woman with my family.

“I’m now all woman and happier than ever with my wife by my side.”