A HEARTBROKEN County Durham family are urging people to get their Covid vaccine after a young mother who died from the virus said it was the “worst mistake of her life” not to receive it. 

The family of 24-year-old Abby Gibbs have paid tribute to a woman who would “do absolutely anything for her kids” after she died following an almost three-week battle in intensive care with Covid, last Wednesday.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Abby’s mother, Lynne Gibbs and brother, Lewis Gibbs described how the Brandon mother-of-three had left a mark on everybody she met. 

The Northern Echo: Abby Gibbs, left, with brother Lewis Gibbs, Charlotte Kell holding two of Abby's children Picture: CONTRIBUTORAbby Gibbs, left, with brother Lewis Gibbs, Charlotte Kell holding two of Abby's children Picture: CONTRIBUTOR

'She was my best friend'

Ms Gibbs, who described Abby as her "best friend," said she had been known among everyone for her humour and loyalty to her loved ones. 

She said: “She had a beautiful smile, she was just so kind – it was her smile and generosity, and humour that got everybody.

“She would make us laugh to the point of crying, she was really funny – and was proud of her kids.

"She was my best friend, I could rely on her for anything and she would stand by her family through thick and thin."

Mother to Makayla, six, Harrison, five, and Fallyn, who turns three on Monday, the former apprentice hairdresser and St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham pupil was destined to be a “brilliant” mother.

Ms Gibbs said: “She only ever wanted to be a mam, even from a very early age she was pushing prams with look-a-like babies in them.

“All she ever talked about was her kids, she was so very proud of her kids.”

The Northern Echo:

'She loved her kids'

Explaining that her kids were Abby’s whole world, but that she also cared immensely for others, Mr Lewis said that in the days leading up her death, she had ordered clothes to give as a gift to a friend who had not yet given birth.

He said: “She had even ordered clothes for one of her friend’s kids who has not yet been born.

“At Christmas time, she would even go online and go on this website to help parents without much money and she would buy and send the toys to the kids.

“It just goes to show how (much) she loved her kids, and everyone else’s kids.”

Abby was admitted into intensive care at the University Hospital of North Durham, where she spent 17 days battling the virus, after falling seriously ill with Covid at the start of last month.

Ms Gibbs said: “Abby was supposed to go the same day as me to have her vaccine, but she was that hooked on conspiracy theories, she decided not to go.

The Northern Echo: Abby's children, Harrison, left, Fallyn and Makayla Abby's children, Harrison, left, Fallyn and Makayla

'She said make sure you look after the kids'

“The first day she was admitted, she said ‘mam, I wish I had gone and got the vaccine – this is the worst mistake I have ever made'.”

Only able to communicate with her children and family using Facetime, Ms Gibbs said Abby continued to provide for her family for as long as she could, even as her situation worsened.

She said: “She was in intensive care and she ordered online a full shop, with clothes – she was arranging stuff for the kids.”

Explaining that her children had been at the forefront of her mind, Mr Lewis added: “I was the last person she spoke to, and she said make sure you look after the kids – make sure they can have the best life they can.”

Abby passed away in the same hospital she had been admitted to on Wednesday, September 22.

But in a huge torrent of support for her children and family, scores of people gathered for a balloon release in memory of Abby, last Sunday. 

More than 150 people had arranged to set free the balloons, including a balloon with a handwritten letter from her children, in Brandon.

The Northern Echo:

'We don’t know how to thank everybody enough'

GoFundMe has since been set up by close friends, which has so far seen more than £1,000 raised, in aid of helping to support Abby’s children.

Describing how the family been touched by the huge impact of everybody's support, Mr Gibbs said: “We have just been so overwhelmed and impressed by the amount of support we have had from the community.

“This community in Brandon, it is so close-knit and it’s just so special – we have been inundated with messages, cards and flowers and we don’t know how to thank everybody enough.”

Mr Gibbs, who said all of the family had now gone for their vaccine in the wake of Abby's death, said: “We just hope this will help raise awareness to bring people forward.

“In Brandon when Abby died, the amount of people, you couldn’t get a walk-in appointment for a jab, they had none left.

Ms Gibbs added: “I wouldn’t wish this on anybody, to have to sit children down and tell them that their mum has gone to heaven.

“If Abby had been vaccinated she would still be here today.

"She will be missed by everyone." 

Abby now leaves behind her three children, Makayla, six, Harrison, five, and Fallyn, 3, as well as her boyfriend Liam Weir, mother Lynne, and siblings, Kathryn, Christine, Jeff and Lewis.

To view and donate to the online fundraiser - click here

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