by Nick Bramhill
THE relieved parents of cancer-stricken Gavin Glynn have said they have witnessed a “miracle”, after surgeons in the US saved the life of their four-year-old son.
The brave youngster, from Greystones, Co. Wicklow, is now recovering in hospital in Houston, Texas, after his 12-hour life-saving operation went better than anticipated.
Surgeons managed to successfully remove both tumours from the youngster’s pelvis and to perform the necessary procedure without removing his bladder and colon – as had been feared.
Yesterday his parents Jayne and John Glynn, who last month raised their €350,000 target in just one week for his specialist treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center (stet), said they felt the power of prayer had helped save their son.
Just hours before Gavin underwent open surgery last Tuesday, they had urged the Irish public to pray for him after his medical team discovered his tumours had increased in size.
But yesterday his overjoyed parents received their best news in years after the specialist medical team performed the HIPEC treatment as planned.
Gavin will now spend a further week in the hospital’s intensive care unit as he undergoes further tests, under chief surgeon Dr. Hayes Jordan.
Yesterday his overjoyed father, John, told of his joy that Gavin, who suffers from a rare childhood cancer called ‘Rhabdomyosarcoma’, was finally on the road to recovery.
And writing on his blog, he paid a touching tribute to the huge support and generosity of the Irish public, who quickly responded to his ‘My Boy’ campaign to fund Gavin’s treatment in the US, after being warned he had just months to live.
He said: “We are in ICU [Intensive Care Unit] department now with Gavin. We are so happy to share some good news with everyone for a change.
“The amazing surgeon Dr Hayes Jordan and her team were able to remove both tumours from Gavin’s pelvis and also perform the HIPEC treatment as planned.
“We had been told that Gavin’s bladder and colon would have to be removed and he would have two permanent bags, but when they went in they were able to get them out without touching the bladder and colon.
“We really believe what has happened today is a miracle and it is down to everyone’s prayers and positive thoughts being answered for Gavin and the medical team involved, for that we cannot thank everyone enough.”
However, John stressed that Gavin, who will undergo eight weeks of treatment in the US in total, will still need to be closely monitored in the coming months.
He added: “We still have a long road ahead in the coming days and weeks and months to make sure everything is gone for good, but for now everyone should know how happy we are and it is all with your help, donations, support. prayers and positivity that our boy Gavin is with us today.
“Thank you to each and every person…sending you all our love and thanks. John, Jayne and SuperGavin.”
