TRAGIC Sarah Bartlett was being buried today in her best pink party dress - just days after wearing it to celebrate her first birthday.

Hours before her death, little Sarah enjoyed the happiest day of her life among family and friends.

Mum Jan told the Oxford Mail: "We bought her a beautiful party dress in pink satin and lace. She had the most wonderful day. She was active and responsive and she was smiling and gurgling.

"It was like she was saying goodbye to us all. I think she'd had enough."

Sarah, of Lansdowne Road, Dry Sandford, near Abingdon, suffered severe brain damage after an attack of bacterial meningitis at just eight days old.

Her death is the second tragedy to strike Jan and her husband Dave. They lost their first son Daniel nine years ago after he was born with no kidneys.

At one point in Sarah's illness, medical staff talked to the couple about switching off her life support. But the youngster pushed out her own ventilator and battled for her life.

In the months that followed, the couple fought to help her recover movement and sight. The family sought help from a chiropractor and sight therapist and Sarah's godfather Hamid Ghafari set up Sarah's Fighting Fund to pay for specialist treatment and equipment. Before her death she learned to swallow normal food, gained some movement in her arms, legs and neck and became more alert.

Jan, 44, who runs the Premier Letting Agency in Cowley Road, Oxford, said: "I wouldn't change it. If you said, 'Should we have turned off the ventilator?', I would still say no - she's given so many people so much.

"She was incredibly beautiful from the moment she was born."

Ambulance technician Dave, 46, added: "We got to know her really well."

Sarah's party on Sunday was not only a birthdy celebration but also to thank friends and family - including Sarah's seven-year-old brother Charlie - for their support.

Jan said: "Sunday was her birthday. All her special friends were here and people that had supported us."

But the next morning her parents noticed something was wrong with her breathing and she died after Dave's attempts to resuscitate her failed.

Sarah's funeral was due to take place at St Helen's Church, Dry Sandford, at 2.45pm today, when she was to be buried in her party dress with some of her favourite cuddly toys.

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