Life-saving op goes ‘perfectly’ for Michael
A young basketball star at the centre of a massive fundraising campaign has had life-saving surgery in Barcelona.
Brave schoolboy Michael McNulty had the successful surgery on Tuesday after enduring a painful brain condition for three years.
The sport mad ten-year-old, who plays for Paisley Basketball Club’s St Mirren side, was diagnosed with the incurable neurological disorder Chiari Malformation five years ago, flagged up after an accident at school.
A CT scan following the accident revealed his brain was too big for his skull, causing him extreme pain.
Having discovered pioneering surgery at the Chiari Institute in Barcelona, his family raised an incredible £22,000 for the operation through the Miracle for Mikey campaign.
The fundraising effort was supported by Paisley Basketball Club, who helped raise thousands of pounds to help the young basketball star.
Speaking about the operation, Michael’s mum Donna: “We were told it was a very simple operation and he should recover fairly quickly.”
“I would never have guessed a year ago we would be here. A friend convinced me we could fundraise and put the idea in my head that this was not impossible. And here we are.
“There were tears from both of us and the two hours and 15 minutes I was away from him were the longest of my life.
“The surgeon said everything went perfectly, so perfect there is only a very, very small incision.
“Mikey has been so brave and is cuddled up in bed now. We could of not gotten this far without all the help and support from everyone.
“Thank you so much to everyone for donating and helping us on this journey.”
The Miracle for Mikey campaign has been ongoing for more than a year and raised the money needed to send the St Louise pupil to Barcelona for the treatment.
The “invisible” condition means Mikey has a severe herniation – shifting of brain tissues – of 21mm and a cyst on his brain.
Tests carried out also revealed muscle weakness in his right arm and a small scoliosis of the spine whereby it is “poker straight” instead of a normal curve.
Without this operation there could be damage the brain and spine which would be permanent.
For the past year, the sports-mad youngster – who plays for Paisley Basketball Club – has suffered migraines, sickness, exhaustion and sleep apnea.
Specialist surgery at the Chiari Institute is less invasive than brain surgery in the UK – where treatment and research is lacking – and prevents symptoms from worsening.
The pioneering surgery has already proved highly successful in alleviating pain and symptoms in other children, and is Mikey’s best shot at a normal life.
Donna, who lives with a mild form of the condition, was told her son’s condition was so serious it could prove fatal. And the downturn in his condition in recent months proved heartbreaking.
Mikey and Donna were due to fly to Spain for his long-awaited treatment on March 22 – the day before lockdown measures took effect – but Mikey and his mum were crushed when they had to cancel plans.
The specialist facility the family had fought so hard to afford treatment at had also cancelled all operations because of the coronavirus pandemic.
But after arriving in Barcelona last week and undergoing tests, the surgery the family battled so long for was finally due to go ahead on Tuesday.
Mikey will be in hospital until Friday before being allowed to fly home at the beginning of next week.
He will then have follow-ups with the Chiari Institute after one year, two years and five years.
It had been hoped the money raised by the family would cover those follow- up appointments too, but a number of factors mean they will now have to continue fundraising.
Donna hopes once he has recovered from the operation, sports-daft Mikey will again be able to play basketball and football – both of which he loves.
We were told it was a very simple operation. He should recover fairly quickly