Pageboy fights back after losing his legs to meningitis

Jul 6 2009 by The Journal

THIS was the moment brave Robbie Jones proudly walked his parents down the aisle – despite losing his legs to meningitis.

The two-year-old fought back from the brink of death to fulfil his parents’ dream at Old Elvet Methodist Church, in Durham City, on Saturday.

Jill Graham was forced to postpone her marriage to Wayne Jones last summer when their son Robbie was taken seriously ill with group B meningococcal septicaemia.

Robbie's left leg was amputated from below the knee and his right leg was amputated above the knee. Surgeons also had to remove the ends of his fingers on his left hand.

But the brave youngster has since made an amazing recovery and made his parents’ dream day even better by walking down the aisle with them as their page boy.

The wedding was third time lucky for Jill and Wayne, after they were twice forced to cancel their wedding.

Their first attempt to get married was called off after the husband-to-be badly broke his leg while playing football. Then Robbie’s illness fell just weeks before their second date in July last year.

Jill, 28, of Bowburn, County Durham, said: “We were supposed to get married in 2005, but Wayne broke his leg so badly he was in and out of hospital for 18 months.

“Luckily we hadn’t paid for everything so it was OK. Then last year Robbie got ill. Beforehand I had been convinced something was going to go wrong.

“But I thought the photographer might cancel on the day or something, I never dreamed it would be as bad as it was.

“We wanted to wait until Robbie could walk again so he could take us down the aisle.

"After all we have been through, you wouldn't believe how nervous I was leading up to the wedding. I organised practically everything myself and I just wanted everything to go without a hitch.

"Robbie is such an amazing little boy, we are so proud of him.”