The parents of a two-year-old Irish boy who underwent pioneering brain surgery in the United States yesterday say their son is recovering well.
Liam Heffernan, from Castledrum, Keel, Co Kerry, has Battens Disease, which is a rare neurological disorder.
He underwent the gene transfer procedure trial at Weill Cornell University Hospital in New York.
His parents, Tony and Mary Heffernan, say their son is expected to spend four weeks under the supervision of his medical team at the hospital before returning home in early June.
The couple are now hoping that Liam's body will accept the genes, which offer him the only chance of surviving the disorder.
Liam's surgery took place exactly 15 weeks after his five-year-old sister Saoirse died from the same illness.
Only four other children worldwide have participated in the trial, which began in August 2010.
