A STUDENT who contracted the deadly MRSA virus after battling tuberculosis is celebrating after flying through his A-levels.
Zain Shabbir, 21, of Hyndburn Street, Accrington, was rushed into emergency surgery at the Royal Blackburn Hospital after TB was diagnosed in April 2005.
He spent two months recovering in hospital but after he returned home medics ordered him back in for another month after it was discovered he had contracted MRSA.
He lost four stones in weight and during his recuperation had to take a cocktail of 20 tablets a day. He underwent several operations, before his recovery around a year ago.
As soon as he was able, the former Hyndburn Park Primary and Moorhead High School pupil re-enrolled at Blackburn College and was delighted when he got his results last month – a B in sociology and Cs in English, religious studies and citizenship.
He is now looking forward to starting an English language degree at Bradford University before hopefully becoming a high school English teacher.
Zain said: "It was very bad. At the beginning I was in isolation because they didn’t know what it was. I wasn’t in touch with anybody. All my friends were doing A-levels and I was still in hospital. I was at death’s door – it sounds depressing but it’s true.
"After two months I got to go home and I was so delighted it was finally over. I stayed one night at home and then the doctors rang the next day saying you’ve got MRSA. I was back in hospital for about another month."
Zain added that his mum Yasmin and dad Mohammed had been a great help.
He said: "My mum had to take a lot of time off work. I didn’t have a social life either but my friends were really supportive and were there all the time."
Barbara Pilling, Blackburn College senior tutor, said: "Zain has perservered to get his grades despite his illness and we are so proud of him. He was always so friendly and smiley, even when he wasn’t feeling well. He was a dedicated student who would always go the extra mile.
"As well as his four A-levels he was also part of the student council and got involved with extra curricular activities, helping with our end-of-year summer ball."
