Ruby Boston, of Queensland, Australia, put up a fierce fight against Covid battling the virus for two weeks but her health eventually took a turn for the worst
A mum has told of her heartbreak after her five-year-old daughter died with Covid.
Ruby Boston’s family are desperate for their little girl to be remembered as a beloved daughter and sister and not just a Covid statistic.
The brave youngster, from Queensland, Australia, spent two weeks battling the virus but her health rapidly deteriorated within days and she had to be placed on a ventilator.
In a tearful interview with 7News, her mum Ashleigh McCosker described Ruby as “the most beautiful, sweet girl.”
She added: “They resuscitated her and I think she came back so she could give me that time to say goodbye.”
Ruby was born prematurely in 2016 with microcephaly and cataracts and she was diagnosed with the incurable Cockayne Syndrome Type 2 two years later.
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The tot was unable to develop the muscle tone needed to walk, crawl or sit up and was unable to speak.
But despite these obstacles, she still showed all those around her that she loved them.
Her mum told how her fighting little girl would find joy in life’s simplest pleasures.
“Swinging on the swing, mainly just cuddles and being carried around,” she added.
Ruby died on February 1 before she had the chance to get vaccinated.
Ms McCosker told 7news how she could only get an appointment for her daughter once she had already caught Covid.
A GoFundMe page titled “Her Name Is Ruby” has been set up in her honor with an emotional message.
It reads: “It was apparent to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Ruby, how bright her personality was and how she knew to love and be loved.
“Her smile, little laugh and gestures were her way of communicating.”
The page said Ruby’s relatives believe that the decision to reopen the borders in Queensland before the vaccine rollout for children “contributed” to the little girl’s death.
It read: “Perhaps more support and forethought should have been given to the families of the young and vulnerable.”
It told how Ruby had been “on borrowed time” since conquering pneumonia in both her lungs in June 2020.
“Her little body had endured so much and was unable to fight any further illness,” it added.
Ruby’s death was announced on Wednesday.
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Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she is the first young child to pass away in the area due to Covid.
“It’s absolutely devastating to wake up to hear that news,” she added.
But a message on her GoFundMe page said: “We really just wanted the world to know she wasn’t just a child who died with Covid.
“She was someone’s child, she was my sister Ashleigh’s beloved daughter and her name was Ruby.”
The page was set up to support Ms McCosker and Ruby’s sister while they process the loss of “their cherished loved one”.
Some of the money raised will also be donated to Make a Wish Foundation and the Amy and Friends Support Group on her behalf.
Ruby graduated from nursery last year where she made lots of friends and she traveled to the UK for the Amy and Friends Conference in 2018.
She was described as “a beautiful little girl with a bright smile who sadly and suddenly left this world.”
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