A mum-of-three and driving instructor who has died after a year-long battle with leukaemia was described by her heartbroken family as "the most gentle soul."
Sara Ashbrook fought courageously against the most severe form of blood cancer and managed to get through the first 100 days following a complex stem cell transplant.
That came from a 21-year-old person in Holland after the bone marrow was flown over to the UK - and the first three months after her operation were hailed a success.
The 48-year-old needed to be injected daily with medication, but one of the drugs triggered her cholesterol to dangerously rise, and she was diagnosed with pancreatitis.
Married Mrs Ashbrook, who lived in Latchford, Warrington, was left in agony and was she was rushed into the Royal Liverpool Hospital, at the end of January.
The Radio 1 fan was struggling to breathe so she was placed in an induced coma for 10 days but she survived that, and was gradually weaned off a ventilator.
Her condition had been so concerning that, at one stage, Mrs Ashbrook thought she had been kidnapped, her daughter Zoe Robinson said, and taken hostage.
"She didn't know who we were at one point," the 28-year-old added.
In mid-February, Mrs Ashbrook suffered a cardiac arrest and "died for two minutes."
But despite surviving this, the grandma-of-four, who also had two stepchildren, picked up various infections, including sepsis, and it eventually proved too much.
She died on April 11, surrounded by her heartbroken family, who were at her bedside during her last moments, wearing personal protective equipment because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zoe told the ECHO: "Mum was a driving instructor for eight years and she fell in love with it.
"She was the most gentle soul, she really was, when in hospital she used to take chocolates and cakes in for the nurses.
"Mum was a really good model for her kids, myself, Declan, 26, and Connor, 20.
"She raised money for charities and always put everybody in front of her, no matter what their needs."
Just before lockdown, Zoe fell pregnant which meant she was unable to visit her mum in Liverpool due to the infection risk.
Sara's devoted husband Ste, 43, had displayed coronavirus symptoms so also had to stay away, while Mrs Ashbrook's parents, over 70, were in the same heartbreaking position.
Zoe's husband was the only person able to go into the Liverpool hospital, before the whole family, who had been resorting to Face Time calls to see her, were eventually allowed to be with Mrs Ashbrook at the end.
Her funeral took place seven days ago, with very limited numbers permissible.
Relatives were only able to sit together if they lived in the same house, and there was no funeral car or a wake.
Zoe added: "Her death has hit us very badly.
"I've had fertility issues over the last eight years, but my mum always stuck by me throughout that.
"For all of us, it's really difficult.
"My heart is shattered.
"Mum will always by my inspiration."
To help with the family's bid to raise money to fight leukaemia, you can contribute here towards the University of Liverpool's pancreatic cancer fund.
