A brave girl who suffered from a muscle wasting disease has died just months after fulfilling her dream of a family holiday.

Andrea Wood, six, of Tiptree Close, Leigh, lost her fight against a rare form of muscular dystrophy at Southend Hospital.

The youngster had suffered from the disease since birth and needed round-the-clock specialist care from medical staff.

Andrea's mum, Pauline Wood, 45, said: "She started deteriorating at Christmas and she died on Sunday.

"She looked like she had rolled over and gone to sleep. She had just had enough and closed her eyes."

Andrea spent most of her life receiving care at Southend Hospital's Neptune Ward and dreamed of going on holiday with her mum and brother Matthew, 14.

Published Friday January 30, 2004

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