A Tayside boy with a rare condition is set to come back to Dundee after showing improvement following life-saving treatment in Edinburgh.
Five-year-old Blake McMillan, from Carnoustie, has MECP2 Duplication Syndrome and cannot walk, talk or eat.
He recently had an operation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh to install a feeding port so he could be fed via a tube into his stomach.
But just hours after the procedure, Blake became seriously unwell.
His stomach began to swell and doctors found that the vast majority of his large bowel was dead.
His mum Jenny, 40, had to make the heart-breaking decision to put his life at risk and allow medics to remove the organ.
But two weeks on, Blake is no longer in a drug-induced coma and is making steady progress. Jenny hopes he can be transferred to Ninewells Hospital in the near future.
In an update on the Blake McMillan Facebook page Jenny says: “This amazing wee miracle of a human being is off his life support … He truly is a little warrior with a huge will to live.
“I’m not saying he is trouble free yet, and no doubt we have a few more battles to fight and hurdles to overcome but he is through the worst. I’m always incredibly proud to be this wee boys mum, but today I just reached a new level of pride.
“The staff here are wonderful. I am eternally grateful to each and everyone of them…..Blake has the desire to live, but they made it possible for him to fight. They are worth their weight in gold, and so much more ? ? ?.”
A later post added: “Although today, he’s been very, very tired and his oxygen levels aren’t too good.
“He also has a bit of a wound infection.
“There was a video conference today between Edinburgh sick kids and Ninewells hospital.
“It went really well and Ninewells are preparing to have him.
“So the plan is that he is on an emergency list on Friday’s theatre and he will will hopefully get a Hickman line inserted under anaesthetic.
“This is for his TPN feed as his line in his neck won’t be able to stay in for as long as he requires it.
“If that all goes ahead and there are no set backs, we hope to have him transferred to Dundee next Tuesday.
“So proud of my little warrior.”
Hundreds of people have been following news of Blake’s fight and have been cheered by the signs of improvement.
Katie Edwards said: “Over the moon to read such positive news. Keep fighting Blake xxxx”
Sheila Lumgair said: “I’m so pleased for you all. What an amazing wee fighter he is. We can all learn from him and his fighting spirit! Love to all x.”
Margaret-kim Pel added: “OMG that’s so terrific to hear, I can’t help but shed a few tears, he’s looking so good, hope he continues to improve, Go Blake, all the best little man, stay strong such good news x x.”
