Pageboy fights back after losing his legs to meningitis

Jul 6 2009 by The Journal

Wayne, a 36-year-old driver for building merchant Thompson’s, said the day would celebrate Robbie’s fighting spirit.

He said: “It was an amazing day for all of us, particularly Robbie. A lot of people wanted to see him walk down the aisle.

"Next week it will be exactly a year since he had meningitis and our lives were turned upside-down.

“All that matters is that he is still here and now we have to do the best for him that we can. He fought to stay with us. It was lovely, but it was very emotional.

“Robbie is over the moon to be walking again, he puts his prosthetic legs on no problem. All he wants to do is be outside all the time.”

More than 150 friends and relatives celebrated with the couple, at Durham Rugby Club, before the family flew off to Tenerife for a special honeymoon.

The youngster was rushed to Newcastle General Hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit after the initial diagnosis - where he was prescribed powerful medication and pain killers, and Jill and Wayne were told Robbie’s chances of survival were slim.

Robbie had prosthetic legs fitted in November and he uses them every day at the family home which he shares with five-year-old sister Abbie as well as his proud parents.

The two-year-old is becoming increasingly confident on the new legs and although he is still regularly seeing a physio, the family’s trips to the plastic surgeon are now more rare.

Jill said the support from hospital staff, family and friends and he community has been overwhelming.

She said: “It has made our family so much stronger and we have met a lot of people. We have also realised there are a lot of people in worse situations.”

All that matters is that he is still here and now we have to do the best for him that we can