Michelle Pearson was a brave and inspirational woman.
She idolised her kids. They were her absolute world.
In December 2017, four of them were taken from her in the most horrific cirumstances.
A petrol bomb attack on their home on Jackson Street, Walkden - a place where they should have been safe - claimed their lives.
Michelle's four youngest children - Demi, 15, Brandon, eight, Lacie, seven and three-year-old Lia - were tragically killed.
It was an unthinkable crime that shocked Salford - and the country.
Michelle, who was 36 at the time, suffered horrendous burns and was put in an induced coma.
For months, she fought to stay live; all the time having no idea of the fate of her babies.
When she was finally strong enough to be woken up, Michelle was forced to relive the pain of being told about the children's deaths over and over again.
She was still critically ill and on a lot of medication. She kept forgetting.
Michelle's mum Sandra Lever said it took around six weeks for the heartbreaking news to finally sink in.
Speaking during a TV interview, she said her daughter kept asking for the kids.
"We did tell her numerous times that they had passed away in the fire but she got, like, in denial," she said.
"She just kept asking every day. Kept forgetting and forgetting.
"It lasted for about six weeks before it sunk in."
In September 2018, the family held a joint funeral for the siblings, known as Walkden's 'little angels'.
Thousands of people lined the streets to pay their respects.
Tiny coffins were carried by horse-drawn carriages to St Paul's Church via Bridgewater Primary School - where Lacie and Brandon were pupils - before a one minute silence that seemed to go on for an eternity.
Michelle had been desperate to attend; to finally see her children laid to rest.
But it wasn’t to be.
She suffered 75 per cent burns in the fire. Her injuries put her at risk of potentially-deadly infection and she was deemed too poorly to attend the funeral.
Instead, she penned a heartbreaking tribute, which was read to the congregation by her sister Claire.
"They were the twinkle in my eye, now they are angels in the sky," Michelle wrote.
"One day we will be reunited together, forever."
A year on from the tragedy, Michelle remained in hospital.
Her loved ones said that although the road to recovery would be long - and she was by no means out of the woods - they had started to discuss plans to move her into a rehab facility.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News , Sandra said her daughter had only recently been able to accept the loss of her beautiful children.
"She still gets upset," she said.
"Twelve months she's been in here, but she wasn't awake for half of it, so she has only just begun the grieving process.
"It took a long time for her to get her head around what happened. We'd have to remind her everyday because of all the medication.
"She has now accepted it and has started to grieve."
On December 11, 2018, a vigil was held outside the family's former Jackson Street home in memory of Demi, Brandon, Lacie and little Lia.
Hundreds of people attended and were left in tears as a presentation - showing images and video of the family in happier times - was played on a big screen.
Michelle was still too ill to go.
Instead, she recorded a touching video message from her hospital bed that was played to crowds.
For many, it was the first time they had seen Michelle since the fire.
In the footage, Michelle thanked the firefighters who fought to save her three daughters and son - as well her neighbours for their incredible support following the tragedy.
"First of all, I'd like to thank all the firefighters for what they have done," she said.
"Second, I would like to thank the community for all their generous donations. And last I would like to thank everybody for coming tonight."
The scene of the devastating blaze remains to this day a celebration of the youngsters' lives.
Bright and colourful banners pay tribute to the 'Walkden Angels'.
Flowers, teddies, candles and handwritten letters lie on the ground in front of the home which was once filled with so much love.
A memorial attached to the window of the house during the vigil read: "Your lives were a blessing. Your memories are a treasure. You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure."
By February this year, Michelle - then 37 - had been in hospital for 15 months.
Her children were always on her mind.
On Valentine's Day, she was filmed by a loved one releasing heart-shaped red balloons into the air in their memory from hospital.
The footage showed the courageous mum sitting in a wheelchair in her hospital gown smiling at the sky as she watches the balloons float upwards.
"Happy Valentine's Day, kids," she said.
It was the first time Michelle had been seen outside since the fire.
The following month, she was pictured again, handing over a cheque for £1,000 to the team of incredible medical staff that had been looking after her at the Wythenshawe Burns Unit.
The cash was raised by family and friends following a number of fundraising events.
Sandra shared the photo on Facebook as she praising the community once more for its continued support.
Michelle's strength, determination and courage in the face of what had happened was inspiring.
She appeared to have come some distance with her recovery - but the heartache never eased and she struggled to come to terms with the loss of her children.
In June this year, Michelle took a turn for the worse.
Her family had warned previously that an infection could kill her.
"We have been reluctant to share Michelle's journey over the past few months as we have been focusing on getting her better," Sandra posted on Facebook.
"Also trying to keep away from the public eye to allow Michelle and the family to grieve.
"However, what people didn't know is that in fact this has been the most challenging time for Michelle and the family.
"Michelle's health has deteriorated in the past 10 weeks, Michelle is still in critical health and still remains in hospital until further notice."
Her family said that for a while, her condition did improve slightly, but on August 25, the mum-of-six passed away.
"Our beautiful Michelle gained her wings last night," her niece Courtney Pearson said.
"She held on, but her children needed her more."
Tributes to Michelle began to immediately flood in.
Her loved ones were heartbroken, but took comfort in the fact that she has now been reunited with her beloved 'angels'.
Sandra wrote: "Sadly last night, after a hard 20 months of fighting, our beautiful Michelle gained her wings and went to join her babies."
RIP, Michelle.
