 A DEVASTATED couple last night told how their three-year-old daughter died less than 24 hours after being struck down by meningitis. Only child Jessica Elizabeth Barbet died from the brain disease on Wednesday. Her 21-year-old mum, Rebecca Higham, from Flint-shire, said last night: "We knew she was ill but we didn't expect her to die. It happened so fast." Jessica was rushed to Wrexham Maelor Hospital from her home in the small village of Ffrith at 4am on Wednesday after her mum noticed a tell-tale rash on her body. She was transferred to Pendlebury Hospital, Manchester, where she died hours later from meningococcal septicaemia. Speaking from her parents' home in the village of Cymau, Flintshire, Ms Higham said: "One minute I know she's gone and the next minute I'm just feeling numb. "The doctors did everything they could. "She was perfect. She loved school and was very clever and loved her teacher. "She was always happy and a typical girly girl. She loved everything pink, make-up and ballet but she was always daddy's girl. I just can't believe she's gone." Fighting back tears, dad Paul Barbet, 24, said: "You always think this sort of thing happens to someone else. You never imagine it's going to be you." Paul's dad Vernon described his granddaughter as his best friend, who went everywhere with him. "She was just wonderful," he said. "There's hundreds of great memories that I will treasure." Llanfynydd Primary School, between Mold and Wrexham, closed yesterday as a mark of respect for Jessica, who was a nursery class pupil. | 
