in recent years, and will be praying that her granddaughter returns home soon to receive it.
Mrs McCann told Hello! magazine: 'Our big family Christmases were so special. This was my time of year with my family. But I won't celebrate this year. I don't feel like it.'
PINK TEDDY |
She added: 'I pick out clothes and put money in a little envelope for each of them. This year I did the same for Maddie. I'd never leave her out. As long as they don't find her body, I'll never give up hope.'
Madeleines parents, Gerry and Kate, are determined to give their two-year-old twins, Amelie and Sean, as normal a Christmas as possible at the family home in Rothley, Leicestershire.
Kates mother, Susan Healy, 61, and husband Brian, 67, told the magazine they were also dreading Christmas. Mrs Healy said: 'I dont know what we'll do. Its the most difficult period since she disappeared. 'Kate is really struggling. She doesn't want it to be Christmas, but we have to do something for the twins.'
I
t was revealed yesterday that Portuguese police are sending DNA samples to the UK from the apartment in the resort of Praia da Luz where Madeleine disappeared on May 3.
The development follows claims by Jose Manuel Anes, the former head of the Portuguese police laboratory, that it is possible that no one will be tried over Madeleines disappearance because of mistakes made in the early days of the investigation.