The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Family and friends pay tribute to ‘wee angel’
‘Inspirational’ Angus girl Ruby Walker dies after long battle with lung condition
The heartbroken mum of Angus double lung transplant girl Ruby Walker has spoken of the devastating loss of her “wee angel” after the youngster succumbed to sepsis.
Just weeks after returning to school following the transplant operation in Newcastle in March, 10-year-old Ruby took ill last week and mum Diane Boyd has spoken of the agonising moment doctors asked to turn off her life support equipment.
School pals at Hayshead Primary, Arbroath, which Ruby proudly went back to last month, are to be offered support following the death of the wee girl, who captured the hearts of the local community – and pop star Olly Murs after putting him at the top of a bucket list she drew up during her health battle.
Diane said: “She was just a little girl who wanted to be famous and she got her wish.”
Ruby had been for a check-up at Ninewells last week when her health deteriorated and she was taken to Newcastle Royal Infirmary.
“By Friday she was very unwell and the doctors decided to fully sedate her,” said Diane.
“Then on Saturday, they asked us to agree to turning off her life support equipment. We knew the time was right and everyone was with her.
“I am so very sad that Ruby’s death came so suddenly after everything that she had been through.”
The Ruby’s Dreams Facebook page has been flooded with messages of condolence.
“The doctors and nurses in the RVI in Newcastle fought so hard to help her but it was just too much for her wee body. Breathe easy my wee angel,” added Diane.
Ruby was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just two weeks old and suffered a viral infection at seven months. She spent three years on the transplant list and her life hung in the balance on Christmas Day when one of her barely functioning lungs collapsed.
The transplant was carried out at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in late March and Ruby returned home to Arbroath in May.
Ruby met hit singer Olly after he posted a goodwill video message for the youngster when she put meeting him at the top of her bucket list during the transplant wait.
Last night a JustGiving page was launched to raise £2,000 for a headstone and a memorial for Ruby.
Within hours of it being set up it had already passed the target amount.
Highlighting the work of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and this month’s Jeans for Genes Day, Angus schools and learning director Dr Pauline Stephen said: “Staff in the school are working with officers including our educational psychology service to support Ruby’s many friends and our thoughts are, of course, with Ruby’s family at this most difficult of times.”
Donations can be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rubyarbroath