A heartbroken family have paid a touching tribute to a much-loved woman who could "light up a room just by walking in".
Kelly Heybourne, from Southport, who worked as a carer in the community, had been living with diabetes since she was 15. The condition meant her kidneys began to fail and as she got older, was receiving almost constant dialysis for months.
Devastatingly, the 38-year-old died when complications arose and she suffered a bleed on the brain. This week marks four years since her passing, with her dad, Mike Heybourne, paying a loving tribute to his daughter.
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In a public post on social media he wrote: "It’s been four years today, Kelly Heybourne, I just miss your smile and the lovely way you had about you, you could light up a room just by walking in. Until we meet again I will always love you Kelly H."
In an earlier post, he shared a heart-warming photograph of Kelly and sister Amy as he added: "I can’t believe where the years have gone and I can’t believe it’s been four years since we lost you Kelly.
"We are all thinking about you today Kelly, and I know you're still around me, like when you put a smile on my face by doing silly things that only you would do, and anybody that knew you Kelly would know what I mean. Love and miss you Kellogg’s."
The ECHO previously reported that her father, Mike, and his wife Lydia had been dieting in order to lose weight and be able to donate one of their kidneys to Kelly. But after her death, it would be Kelly who would ultimately save two lives, as her liver was donated.
Speaking at the time, Mike said: "Mike told the ECHO: "Just a couple of minutes after she was pronounced dead the donation people came in and said that Kelly's liver could be used for other people on the transplant list who needed it."
Mike explained that through Kelly's work as a carer she got to know hundreds of people who she helped. He said Kelly would often go back to see people in her own time, help them with their shopping and anything else they needed as he added: "That's just how Kelly was, she always looked after everyone else and now even after her death, she has saved two lives.
"One was a young teenager who will hopefully be able to live a long and happy life now."
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