WHEN teenager Robert Greenslade was struck down by a rare disease, his parents were twice told to prepare for the worst.

The 15-year-old spent a month fighting staphylococcal double pneumonia in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, which led to both lungs collapsing and septicaemia.

But thanks to the “wonderful” staff in the hospital’s high dependency and intensive care units, Robert survived and is now at home recovering.

Last night his parents, from Little Milton, near Thame, paid tribute to everyone who helped their son.

Anita Greenslade said: “I can’t tell you how amazing everyone there was.

“The doctors told us they very rarely see somebody with such a severe case of staphylococcal double pneumonia, and twice we were told that he could die.

“It was terrifying to see Rob in that condition. You feel so helpless.

“But the care he received was out of this world, and we are so proud of the way he has fought through this.”

Robert, a pupil at Icknield Community College in Watlington, was admitted to hospital on October 5. His condition deteriorated and he spent his 15th birthday in intensive care, losing one-and-a-half stones in weight.

Mrs Greenslade said: “Robert was desperately ill.

“The condition really struck without warning. One minute he was a fit and healthy young man and the next he was fighting for his life.

“It was a whirlwind for us because we could just see him getting even more sick as he developed these new conditions.”

Robert is now recovering at home and looking forward to playing again for Watlington Under 15s in the Oxford Mail Boys’ League.

His mother added: “I think it will be a while until he is fit enough, but Rob is already talking about it.

“We want to thank every single person who saved Rob’s life, including all the doctors and nurses.

“Additionally, we want to thank the people working at Ronald McDonald House who do such wonderful work in supplying rooms to people who have loved ones in intensive care.

“Sometimes hospitals are in the news for the wrong reasons, but the John Radcliffe really does offer such a fantastic level of care and treatment.”

  • Staphylococcal pneumonia frequently follows influenza or other viral respiratory infections, and is seen more frequently in elderly people.

The bug is often the cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia, and is considered extremely serious – with up to a third of sufferers dying.

Symptoms include shaking, chills, severe chest pain, chattering teeth and foul-smelling mucus coughed up from the lungs.