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Liam Heffernan, 2, with his father Tony: Liam yesterday underwent gene replacement surgery to try and combat his Batten's Disease. Bee For Battens
Liam
Irish boy, 2, 'recovering well' after pioneering brain surgery
Liam Heffernan yesterday underwent a gene transfer procedure in a bid to defeat the rare Batten’s Disease.
9.45am, 4 May 2011
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A KERRY TODDLER is said to be recovering well after undergoing pioneering brain surgery in the United States in a bid to defeat a rare neurological disorder.
Liam Heffernan, 2, from Keel in Co Kerry underwent a procedure in New York yesterday to try and counter his disorder, Batten’s Disease, which causes a sufferer’s motor and speech skills to slowly regress as well as triggering seizures and eventual blindness.
The surgery was a gene replacement procedure, involving drilling six small holes in his skull, allowing replacement genes to be administered to 12 locations. The hope is that the cells will recreate themselves and supply a protein currently missing from Liam’s body.
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RTÉ reports the news from his parents Tony and Mary who say Liam will now remain at the Weill Cornell University Hospital for at least four weeks, while doctors wait to see whether Liam’s body will accept the genes.
The surgery took place exactly 15 weeks after the death of Liam’s older sister Saoirse, who died of the same illness – and almost a year to the day after Liam was diagnosed with the condition.
Liam is only the fifth child in the world – and the first outside of the United States – to undergo the procedure. Yesterday’s Evening Herald said Liam was also the youngest person to receive the treatment so far.
“What lies ahead is tough for us, but we are confident that the little monster is strong enough and fit enough for all that lies ahead,” father Tony told the paper.
“Recovery will be the most intense part of the entire procedure, which may involve some pain and some serious discomfort,” he added.
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The poor girl,how could she ever rest in peace,no family as yet,buried in a place she probably never knew,from her shoulders down in a coffin and her skull probably in a box in a basement somewhere..such a sad story..your right Jane how do you lose a skull..
My parents were involved in the recovery of the body of a man in the early 2000′s (?) in the Shannon Estuary. That man has never been identified. He was given a state burial in Ennis. Another member of the rescue crew entered a competition on Clare FM a short time after to win a headstone. The competition called for people to write their own epitaph. He wrote one for the unidentified man and won. “All you people of Co. Clare, kneel down here and say a prayer, for the man from God knows where”. Very sad to think that there is no name on that headstone.
That made me go cold. What a lovely thing to do for someone and a lovely epitaph.Unclaimed bodies always make me feel so terribly sad, lost souls,some never missed and others never found.
Thats the sad thing about stories like this, maybe no family to miss her! Like the lady who’s body was found in the sea in clontarff I dont think she was even identified never mind been missed! We all take it so much for granted that everyone has family! Cherish yours everyday♡♡
A pretty epic fail really by forensic standards. No dental xrays,no chance of facial reconstrustion. Plus its just bad form to loose a part of someone,how’d you even do that its not exactly a set if keys!
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