After being diagnosed with liver cancer, the Stayin' Alive singer underwent chemotherapy and was thought to be in remission, but things took a turn for the worse this year when he was diagnosed with a twisted colon - the same ailment which killed his twin brother Maurice in 2003.
The bowel then became perforated, leaving Robin with just a 10 per cent chance of survival.
Dwina added: "I said, 'If we just sit here and not let Robin have the operation, he will be gone in an hour.'
"RJ said, 'Dad is going to pull through this. I know it'.
"So they began the operation, with the warning that he might die within 20 minutes.
"Those were the worst 20 minutes of my life.
"I sat there praying. Then the doctors came in and nodded. He had made it. They told us he would be on a ventilator for three days - but he was off it within hours."
Soon after Robin was diagnosed with pneumonia, and Dwina, Barry and Robert-John started a constant vigil at his bedside. While he is now awake, Dwina admits he is far from cured yet.
She said: "We have to take each day as it comes. Robin has been seriously ill. Every time I go to hospital to see him, I am so happy to be there, so happy to see him with his eyes open and talking."
- Bang! Showbiz