IT WAS the call that every parent dreads - Caroline Stevenson picked up the phone to be told her husband and three children had been in a horrific head-on car crash.

The smash last April, along Abingdon Road in Standlake, left the four family members injured, and then eight-year-old Josh was left with a life-threatening tear in his bowel.

But one year later, and a month after being given the all-clear from the team at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, the three youngsters are fighting fit, desperate to thank the medics who pieced their family back together and saved Josh's life.

Mrs Stevenson, from Finstock, said: "I remember it very clearly, it was a Wednesday and we were having a team lunch all together at work. The call came through from my husband Matthew who said they'd had an accident, but that's all he could manage so someone else took over the phone to reassure me they were all ok and out of the car.

"I was just in tears."

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The 38-year-old was rushed to the scene, where residents had rallied together to help - including an 'incredibly reassuring' anonymous resident who kept Mrs Stevenson informed over the phone.

Mrs Stevenson said: "I saw the car and the whole front was gone, then I saw my daughter Rose sitting on someone's lap and realised Josh and Hannah weren't there.

"I got pointed in the direction of the ambulance and I think they were all in absolute shock. When they got out the car they must've seemed ok then their decline was quite rapid."

Mr Stevenson was taken separately to the John Radcliffe Hospital, although treated within the Children's Hospital to ensure he was nearby the three youngsters. Josh, Hannah and Rose were rushed to the John Radcliffe with Mrs Stevenson in the ambulance, before Josh was taken straight to resuscitation area.

Mrs Stevenson said her two daughters Hannah and Rose had to be assessed elsewhere, and added: "They were so incredibly brave throughout; knowing that their big brother needed me and so going off with strangers without any fuss, aged only four and seven."

Matthew, 36, and Hannah, eight, escaped the crash with cuts, burns and bruises, whilst Rose, five, had seat belt cuts so severe they had sliced through to the bone.

Josh, 10, had suffered severe internal injuries, he was vomiting and could no longer move. After a few days doctors eventually found the perforation in his bowel, which was causing infections, and he was rushed straight to surgery to have part of it removed.

The mum-of-three said: "There were moments where we thought we'd lose him. For both my husband and myself, and Josh's little sisters; it was the worst experience imaginable - not knowing whether he'd make it but staying by his side every second of every day."

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With the help of the team at Oxford Children's Hospital Josh, who celebrated his ninth birthday and Easter in the hospital, slowly learnt to walk again and joined his family all back to fighting fit.

All three children have been cared for by the hospital team that included psychologists, physiotherapists, doctors, nurses, play specialists and more.

The youngsters are now training for the Henley Kids Triathlon and are desperate to give back to the hospital team that cared for them all.

Mrs Stevenson said: "Throughout our time in hospital, the staff were absolutely incredible.

"To begin with, the Stevenson's took over a whole bay in one particular ward of the children's hospital, and knowing what had happened, the staff also allowed other members of the family to stay and help look after the children through the nights.

"There were times when they'd wake and cry, and I couldn't be with them all at the same time, so this was huge for me.

"The attention, love and support given by everyone at the hospital was just incredible."

She added: "Now the children look back on their time fondly even though it was absolutely horrific. The hospital was their safe haven."

Josh, Hannah and Rose, who all go to Finstock CofE Primary School, will each take on a different race distance at the triathlon event on June 9 at Henley Leisure Centre.

They have been running, cycling and swimming to get in gear for the impressive feat just one month after all being signed off from hospital.

So far, the three children have raised more than £1,500 for the Oxford Children's Hospital.

Joe Baker, Oxford Children’s Hospital spokesman, said: "It’s always very special when we hear that our young patients are fundraising to make the Oxford Children’s Hospital a better place, but it’s extremely inspiring when they have gone through terrible situations like Josh, Hannah and Rose have – and come out the other side determined to thank all the staff who have looked after them whilst in hospital.

"We wish them the very best of luck with their fundraising and urge family, friends, local community and local businesses to make a donation in support of these fantastic and very brave fundraisers."

The family have also been back to the crash site to thank all the nearby residents who came out to help the family at the time.

To donate to the children's fundraising page see justgiving.com/fundraising/josh-hannah-rose