A young Tayside boy with a rare genetic condition is set to arrive back in Dundee on Tuesday following life-saving emergency surgery in Edinburgh.
Brave Blake McMillan, who suffers from MECP2 duplication syndrome, required an emergency operation at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh after attending the unit for a routine operation in June.
The battling youngster, who was diagnosed with his genetic syndrome at three-weeks old, became seriously unwell following the procedure to insert a feeding tube into his stomach.
Blake’s condition prevents the five-year-old from being able to eat, walk or eat and he receives constant 24-hour care from his mother Jenny.
The young “warrior” was induced in a coma and was placed on a life-support machine after doctors discovered the vast majority of his large bowel was dead.
Blake miraculously pulled through and is now making steady progress.
Jenny and other family members run an up-to-date blog on social media informing thousands of people worldwide on the young boy’s health condition.
In a post, Jenny showed a picture of the recovering youngster, accompanied with a message which said: “This boy (Blake) is looking good today. He is up in his chair for a change of position, still on schedule for Ninewells on Tuesday.”
Ms McMillan and her family set-up a campaign to support Blake and raise money for research into his incredibly rare condition via a number of fundraising methods.
A thrift-store has been established in the Angus town of Arbroath called Blake’s Bargains, which sells second hand and donated items to raise money for the cause.
Forfar town’s M&Co store will host a fashion show in Blake’s name on East High Street in August.
A charity dinner is set to take place in Dundee in September, titled Blake and Gold, at the Apex hotel – the dress code for which will be black and gold and follows on from last years successful ladies lunch which was attended by almost 200 people who raised £8,000.