Father will be with Phillip

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 3

Father will be with Phillip

Nelson reporter The father of the Christchurch heart transplant patient, Phillip Robinson, will travel to Auckland today to be at his son’s bedside. Mr Lloyd Robinson, of Nelson, had been unable to visit Phillip, aged 13, earlier because of the travelling expense. He is on a sickness benefit after suffering a brain haemorrhage about 15 months ago. However, after his plight was publicised, Mr Robinson, aged 40, received a return air ticket to Auckland, given by an anonymous Auckland businessman. Mr Robinson said last evening he was looking forward to seeing Phillip, who had a heart transplant on Christmas Day and suffered a brain haemorrhage three days later. He is heartened by a recent medical report that Phillip was making progress and had suffered no

lasting mental or physical effects from the haemorrhage. “It was marvellous news, he sounds pretty good now,” Mr Robinson said. Mr Robinson, who has received regular reports of Phillip’s progress from the boy’s mother from whom he separated 10 years ago, expected to stay in Auckland about two to three weeks “or as long as the money holds out.” He received several offers of accommodation but has been given permission to stay in the nurse’s home at Green Lane Hospital where Phillip is recuperating.