A BRAVE teenager is looking forward to a carefree Christmas thanks to the help of Evening News readers who paid for him to receive life-saving treatment.

David Phillips' life hung in the balance when it was feared a milky, spaghetti-type fluid which had dried on his lungs could block his airways.

An appeal led to generous readers raising and donating more than £14,000, allowing David, who is now 14 years old, and his parents, Jayne and Mark, to see a chest specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, United States.

This was two years ago and since the trip David, from Wichenford, near Worcester, has not been re-admitted to hospital. Prior to the treatment the schoolboy was forced to return to hospital every couple of weeks.

His proud dad, Mark, who works as a staff nurse, said a small white machine given to David had changed his life.

"The flutter machine, which David blows into, has helped to clear his airways and although he still coughs up the casts they are much smaller and not infected," he said.

Transformation

"It really has been a transformation. He looks like any other normal teenager and has been well enough to return to Chantry High School."

David, a former national Child of Achievement who was presented with his award by the late Jill Dando for the way he coped with his condition, was diagnosed with heart disease when he was four years old.

He underwent five operations to redirect the blood flow before he was three. But this built up pressure within his respiratory system, causing complications within the lung lining, which in turn, led to coughing up the casts.

He is now also following a diet which cuts down on the amount of fat he eats.

"We monitor the amount of fat David eats as we discovered this turned into the casts which he was coughing up - so all this has helped David lead a near-normal life, said Mr Phillips.

"He is still attending appointments for regular check-ups at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Birmingham, but we have not had to take him in for any emergency treatment since the trip to America.

"Looking back over the past two years we are obviously delighted that we had the chance to take David to the Mayo Institute as it has changed his life."