'Loving and caring' mum-of-two Ruth Saber dies in hospital as heartbroken mother pays tribute

A heartbroken mother has paid tribute to her "loving, caring, and generous" daughter after her sudden death in hospital.

Ruth Saber, who lived in Easterside, Middlesbrough, had gone into hospital for a bowel resection back in September but, while she was recovering, her condition plummeted. The 43-year-old - who also suffered from Crohn's disease - was placed in a coma for two months, during which her body battled sepsis, pneumonia, and covid.

Despite the odds, Ruth came around, but sadly lost her hand and feet due to necrosis. After months in the hospital, she started to make significant progress - but tragically, doctors found Ruth was once again suffering from sepsis - and she sadly died on April 5 following a heart attack. She leaves behind her beloved children, 14-year-old Safiya and Noah, 10.

• READ MORE: New parking system sparks concern - but pub agrees to nursery use

• READ MORE: Assault outside bar leaves man with broken nose and teeth knocked out

Ruth's mother Mary Fitzgerald bravely spoke to Teesside Live to pay tribute to her daughter ahead of her funeral on Wednesday, May 1, which will take place at St. Bede's Chapel at Teesside Crematorium. She said: "Ruth was just the most loving, caring and generous person that anyone could meet. She would do anything for anyone."

Full-time mother Ruth didn't work due to her Crohn's disease - but it didn't stop her from giving up time to help other people where possible. Mary said: "She used to do a lot of work for charity, she volunteered, was on the board of governors at school, and worked at the local community hub.

"She used to call herself the world's best receptionist! She will be sadly missed by a lot of people - she even kept in touch with friends from nursery school, some of them are coming to the funeral."

Ruth's story

Ruth first went to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, for a bowel resection in September 2023. While recovering, she was told that where surgeons had reattached her bowel had come away. Ruth was suffering from sepsis, with doctors rushing her in for emergency surgery and fitting her with a stoma bag.

She thankfully began to improve, and had a tracheostomy fitted, finally managing to breathe on her own again. It was removed, but when a cold turned nasty she was diagnosed with pneumonia and had to be sedated again. Her left lung collapsed and a tracheostomy was refitted - but later was taken out after she got back on the mend.

The complications sadly meant Ruth had lost the tops of four fingers in her right hand, her left hand and both feet. During the coma Ruth, who was originally from Hartlepool, also lost all movement in her body.

During the months in hospital, Ruth's loved ones were told three times to say their goodbyes to the adoring mum. Teesside Live spoke to Ruth from her hospital bed in February, as she learned how to move her body again.

A Go Fund Me Page was set up at the time to help buy a prosthetic hand and other equipment.

'Out of the blue'

Mary, a mum-of-three and grandmother-of-four, said Ruth was on the road to recovery back in February and was "doing well" - meaning her sudden passing was "such a shock." Ruth was in ICU but was then moved back down to a normal ward - and was even having physio and was being measured for a new electric wheelchair.

"She was making plans for the future," Mary explained. "She got allowed to go off hospital grounds once a week, we went to the park with the kids for one day, and then the day before she died we went to Toby Carvery for a meal. She was looking forward to getting back home with the kids."

But tragically, hospital staff found that Ruth had contracted another infection, and was once again suffering from sepsis. Mary said: "I left at 3pm on Thursday, April 4. They were going to take her down for local anaesthetic and to put a drain in. At about 6.15pm the hospital rang back and said they were really worried, and asked me to come in."

Sadly on Friday, April 5, Ruth suddenly passed away after suffering a heart attack, leaving her family devastated. Mary continued: "Having to tell the kids that their mam had died suddenly... when she first fell ill we were prepared for the worst. But when she died we were not prepared, it was so out of the blue."

Ruth's friend Fiona Whittingham, who set up the original Go Fund Me Page, has now put the money raised so far towards funeral costs, which is expected to be around £5,700. She's now asked anyone who can help to donate.

Mary also wanted to pay thanks to James Cook Hospital staff for their help over the last few months. She said: "All of them went over and above and I couldn't have asked for better care. Ruth made some good friends in their - even staff on their break used to come to her, she was like their agony aunt."

You can donate to the fundraiser here.

For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter