Baby James Hynes update
Baby, just look at you now
By Sinead McCavana
25 June 2006
Baby James Hynes’ dad said last night that he’s overjoyed at the progress his seriously ill son has made in a German hospital.
The 13-month-old, who was just weeks from death earlier this month, is now eating, drinking, sleeping and playing like a normal toddler.
Jim Hynes says the past nine days at Tubinger Children’s Hospital have been like a “holiday” for the family.
“It is just unreal,” said the dad-of-two.
“James is absolutely bouncing - it’s hard to put into words how we feel.
“It’s the best nine days we have spent with our son since he was born - it’s like a holiday.
“He’s in great form, playing and running around, and the swelling in his face has gone down.
“James had his feeding tube removed and now he’s eating and drinking like a trooper.
“Last night he slept from 8pm until 7.30am - that’s never happened before.”
The Hynes family left for Germany in an air ambulance just over a week ago.
Mum Cathy told Sunday Life then how she feared her son, who has leukaemia, might not make the journey.
Earlier this month doctors at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children had sent James home, saying there was nothing more they could do for him.
Sunday Life exposed James’ plight and following a huge outpouring of public sympathy, the Eastern Health Board agreed to fund a bone marrow transplant operation.
James’ mum Cathy will be the bone marrow donor.
Although this is a painful procedure, Jim says: “She told the doctors she would cut off her right arm to help James.
“Cathy is so happy about James’ progress that she isn’t concerned about her own treatment.
“It begins on Thursday when she’ll get an injection five-times-a-day.
“James will be on a new chemo (therapy) drug for about a week and then the transplant will begin.”
Cheques are still being sent into the Baby James Appeal which will help fund the Hynes family’s lengthy stay in Germany.
It will also go towards helping other children like James.
