Accrington student makes the grade after TB

11:35am Wednesday 20th August 2008

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A STUDENT who almost died after contracting tuberculosis and then MRSA is celebrating after passing his A levels.

Zain Shabbir, 21, was six months into his studies at Blackburn College when he was diagnosed in 2005.

Zain, from Accrington, said there were times when he thought he would not make it, but now he is looking forward to starting university.

“I was studying A levels in sociology, media studies and law when I got ill, and kept being sick, but I just thought I had a bug,” said Zain, who lives in Hyndburn Street with his parents, younger brother and two younger sisters.

“The day they took me into hospital I’d been in college, worrying about my coursework!”

When tuberculosis was diagnosed, when he was rushed into emergency surgery at Royal Blackburn Hospital. He remained in hospital for two months and had two further operations.

“I finally got out and went home, only for the hospital to call a day later to say I had MRSA and I had to go back in for another month,” said Zain, a former pupil at Accrington Moorhead High School.

Zain recuperated at home – his condition was so severe that his treatment, consisting of around 20 tablets every day, lasted two years rather than the ordinary six months.

He re-enrolled at Blackburn College in September 2006.

He was delighted on Thursday when he got his results – C in English, C in RS, B in sociology and C in AS citizenship – meaning he can study English language at Bradford University.