A brave Tayside boy who recently returned home to Carnoustie after five weeks in hospital has been readmitted to Ninewells.
Five-year-old Blake McMillan, who suffers from MECP2 duplication syndrome, became seriously ill after undergoing a routine operation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh last month.
Doctors had to put him in an induced coma after discovering the vast majority of his large bowel was dead. It is believed the youngster reacted to the anaesthetic used for the surgery.
He was transferred to Ninewells Hospital on July 11 and discharged on July 20 after more than a month in hospital.
However the youngster was readmitted on Wednesday due to low sodium levels.
In an update on the Blake McMillan Facebook page his mum Jenny said: “Blake is back in Ninewells.
“He was readmitted on Wednesday after bloods being taken that morning and they discovered his sodium levels were extremely low.
“This can cause all sorts of problems so they had to keep him in for observation.
“It was then thought he had a gut infection but nothing has shown up. His feed was stopped and he was started on IV fluids.
“Last night his feed was recommenced but very slowly. We will have to build this up over the coming days and hopefully we can get back to his normal rate of being fed for 17 hours per day.
“They are questioning whether he was struggling with the volume of feed over 17 hours.
“He is well within himself and has even given two wee chuckles and one smile over the past two days so I am very chuffed about that.
“His hair is falling out in clumps which is likely to be a reaction to a new drug he’s been started on. I hope we can change it to another one.
“Alopecia is something he could do without on top of everything else.”
Diagnosed at just three weeks old, the condition means Blake requires round-the-clock care as he cannot walk, talk or eat.
The latest development comes after an announcement that Lotto millionaire Gillian Bayford had donated a brand new car in a bid to find a cure for an Angus youngster.
Family friend Gillian donated the brand new Audi as a raffle prize to raise funds for research into the rare disease.
Within 24 hours of the announcement the raffle has raised more than £1,200. Tickets can be bought here.
