THE family of a young mum who died on Easter Sunday say they were left overwhelmed by the support they received during a minute’s applause in memory of their daughter at a football match last weekend.
Alex Warden, 29, was ‘funny, bubbly’ and loved by all those that knew her.
And her mum, Alison Fitzgerald, told the Chronicle that she was also a real fighter due to what was going on behind the scenes.
Alex had been fighting a rare liver disease - auto immune hepatitis - since she was just eight years old, but on the surface she was just like any other loving mum.
Alison said: “When she was three years old up until she was eight she used to do modelling.
“She was just so gorgeous.
“She was on the front covers of the Sunday magazines and Index catalogues.
“At eight years old she came out of school at Christmas and looked a bit yellow.
“We took her straight to the doctors who took blood tests and then we got a phone call asking us to go straight to Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
“No-one knew what was happening but after a week she was diagnosed with auto immune hepatitis - which was a really rare liver disease back then.”
Alex began taking a series of medication and Alison says she was almost a ‘guinea pig’ due to the lack of knowledge around the disease.
She gave birth to her son, Rocco - ten weeks prematurely - when she was 20 years old.
Alison added: “He was in ICU for ten weeks and it was a surprise for us when he came home on New Year’s Eve.
“But that’s when she developed another rare liver disease - Budd-Chairi syndrome.
“Alex never did anything by half - she managed to get two rare liver diseases attacking the same area in the same person.
“She had stents fitted but it just went downhill from there.
“She was diagnosed with celiac disease which she joked about because that wasn’t rare.”
Alex began to deteriorate in 2019 and had three liver transplants - the first two unsuccessful but a third worked until she died last month.
And on February 6 this year Alex was transferred to Leeds where she was diagnosed with disseminated invasive aspergillosis - a rare life-threatening infection that resulted in her death.
But Alison said her daughter was always such a fighter and despite her illnesses, she never let anyone know it would get her down.
“We were told three times that she wouldn’t make it through the night and on two occasions she did,” she added.
“She was such a fighter but no one would have ever known what she was going through.
“She was really bubbly, funny and so kind.
“But she was also very private - she didn’t like people knowing her business.
“She’d always put a brave face on no matter how hard it got.”
Alex’s son Rocco is an under-nine player with Wombwell Town and she spent many hours there supporting him and his teammates.
A minute’s applause was held in the 29th minute of the senior team’s play-off final win against Dearne and District on Saturday - and Alison was in attendance with Rocco, Alex’s dad Brett and brother Ayden.
“Alex used to love going down with Rocco,” Alison said.
“Even when she was poorly she’d bring down a chair so no one would know what was happening.
“We were there with the family on Saturday.
“It was so overwhelming.
“Our Rocco had a T-shirt with a picture of Alex on.
“That’s when I couldn’t stop crying when I saw him holding it up.
“I’m so proud of him - he’s so brave.”
Alex’s funeral will take place on Friday, May 9, at Barnsley Crematorium followed by a celebration of her life at Locke Park Club.
People are asked to wear orange - Alex’s favourite colour - or any colourful attire they feel comfortable in.
In lieu of flowers the family are asking for any donations to go to the Liver Foundation.
