Brave Helen, from South Anston, wrote a popular weekly column for The Star because she wanted readers to know what life was really like on the organ transplant list.

She was diagnosed with debilitating chronic lung disease emphysema in 2003.

Her condition became gradually worse and left her breathless and needing to use a wheelchair.

Helen died on Saturday in the Northern General Hospital where she had been admitted a few days earlier with an infection. Doctors told her family her lungs were no longer strong enough for her to survive

Her mum Pat Eaton paid tribute to her daughter as a "lovely bright girl who was devoted to her family and put everyone else before herself".

Pat said: "Right at the end, she knew how sick she was and was making a list for her husband so he knew where everything was and what he had to do. She was that sort of person - the world's greatest organiser.

"When she couldn't get out anymore she would organise everything over the phone or on the internet.

"She was at her happiest when she was chatting to people and organising her family."

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