HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to an “inspirational” young mum who has died aged just 35.

Sara Louise Turner, from Pensnett, made the headlines in 2002, when she defied all the odds and gave birth to her daughter Caitlin, following a “hundred million to one” chance of her ever conceiving and raising a family.

Sara had suffered with ill health throughout her short life and was in and out of hospitals all around the country since she was six months-old, as doctors tried to diagnose her condition.

She was eventually diagnosed with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) and suffered with a host of other conditions, but was determined to live her life and get married and have children like any normal young woman.

She first met her husband Andrew when she was in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, aged just 16, and the pair celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary last month.

A few years later Sara and Andrew welcomed baby Caitlin into the world, after being told it would be almost impossible for her to have a family of her own.

Sara’s aunt, Eileen Attwood, said: “Sara was told there was something like a hundred million to one chance of her not being able to have a baby with her condition and because she had to be fed through a tube.

“She was absolutely ecstatic, as we all were when Caitlin was born, after she was able to have something that she never thought she would get.”

Sara continued to defy the odds and was “totally shocked” when she gave birth to twin boys – Harry and David - a few years later.

The boys are now aged six and Caitlin will be nine next month.

Sara continued to spend long periods in hospital, with Russells Hall Hospital’s C7 ward, nicknamed ‘Sara’s ward’ by her family and only got to spend around three weeks at home this year.

It was during a stay at home that Sara suffered a seizure and fell, hitting her head during the fall.

She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she passed away on August 9 from her head injury, with her family – including her parents Lynn and Kevin - at her bedside.

Hundreds of family, friends and staff from Russells Hall Hospital turned out to say their last goodbyes at her funeral yesterday (Tuesday) at St Marks Church in Pensnett, followed by a committal at Brierley Hill Cemetery.

Paying tribute to her niece, Eileen, said: “Sara was very kind, gentle, loving and compassionate. She was an inspiration to us all and fought all her battles throughout her life with so much dignity.

“Despite her own illness she always thought of other people, but all she ever wanted was to get married and have children and be a normal mum”.