PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday 14 September 2009
‘A Passion for Living’ by Alex Stobbs pays tribute to staff at
Royal Brompton Hospital
Launched this week, is “A Passion for Living”, by Alex Stobbs, a cystic fibrosis patient at Royal Brompton Hospital.
With an introduction written by his mother Suzanne Stobbs, the book covers the year from April 2008 to 5 April 2009. It is an inspiring account of his life living with CF, life at Eton and at King’s College Cambridge where he is reading music.
Alex has dedicated the book to his family and ‘the fantastic staff at the Royal Brompton Hospital who’ve managed to put up with me for over nineteen years’. He has written the book to improve awareness of CF and hopes it will encourage people to support research into the condition.
In the introduction, Suzanne Stobbs says of staff on Rose Ward, “We found the Brompton’s Rose Ward to be a wonderfully friendly and, welcoming place. The staff were incredibly kind, patient and good-humoured and they all got to know Alexander very well. Cries of ‘Hi Alex’ came from all quarters.”
Alex also speaks with great fondness and respect for Andrew Bush, Professor of Paediatric Respirology at Royal Brompton Hospital. Alex describes how Professor Bush gave him the confidence to deal with his condition, never held him back and encouraged him to do what he wanted in life.
Commenting on the book, Professor Bush, says: “We were delighted to read that Alex has dedicated his book ‘A Passion for living’ to staff at Royal Brompton Hospital.
“The positive comments that he makes about his treatment and our CF multi-disciplinary team throughout the book are a touching reminder of the dedication that our staff display to all patients in their care.
“Alex’s book is a testament to the courage that he has shown throughout his life. I hope that it will inspire other people living with CF to lead life to the full.”
CF is the most common life-threatening inherited disease in the UK. It attacks the lungs and digestive system. Royal Brompton Hospital is home to Europe's largest centre for the treatment and management of the disease.
The book will be published in hardback on 17th September 2009 and will be available at all good book stores priced at £16.99.
Ends/
For further information or photos, please contact:
Shima Islam, Head of media relations
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 020 7351 8672 (Brompton)
Tel: 01895 828 877 (Harefield)
Mobile: 07866 536 345
Email: S.Islam@rbht.nhs.uk
