THE mother of a 28-year-old woman with cystic fibrosis who died of bronchopneumonia has paid a moving tribute to "the perfect daughter and sister".

Kayleigh Box, from North End Lane, Malvern, died at Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, surrounded by her family on Sunday, January 17.

Her mum Dawn called her daughter a wonderful woman and said she and Kayleigh's brothers Kristopher, age 30, Daniel, age 25 and boyfriend Adam Whitehouse were devastated by their loss.

"Kayleigh has left a huge emptiness in our hearts.

"She was beautiful inside and out.

"She was such a wonderful woman who fought until the end."

Kayleigh was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 11 months old after it was noticed that she was not thriving.

Her mum called it a "terrible disease" and hoped a cure could be found in the future to ensure other families do not suffer the same devastating loss.

Kayleigh went to St Matthias Primary School then Dyson Perrins CE Academy.

Mrs Box said: "Despite having CF she always put others first.

"She was fun, bubbly, out going, and had a wonderful sparkle in her eyes.

"She loved her brothers Kris and Daniel immensely. She loved her English Springer Spaniel Denzil more than anything in the world, apart from her partner Adam.

"Kay and I shared a closeness that only a mother and daughter can. I'm going to miss her terribly.

"Kay was the perfect daughter and sister - there could not have been two Kayleighs in the world."

She said her daughter went through her life with endless pills, intravenous antibiotics, physio, nebulisers, hospital stays and appointments.

However, despite fighting to breathe, most of the time Kayleigh never complained.

"She had a bit of an obsession with germs and bugs, she hated being near people with colds and coughs, because she usually caught something as her immune system was low compared to a healthy person.

"So many times she ended up in hospital after catching a virus from somewhere.

"She used to say "Can't they put their hands over their mouths when they cough?".

"She obviously caught the pneumonia from someone who maybe coughed when she was stood next to them, and had her life taken away from her by something that's a million times worse than a common cold."

Among her loves, which included holidays abroad, dancing, Lee Evans and David Attenborough, was the colour purple.

People who attend her funeral at Worcester Crematorium on Tuesday, February 2 at 3.15pm is asked to wear a purple item of clothing.

No flowers, donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.