A young Co Donegal man has received the best Christmas present ever after doctors operated on him in a bid to leave him free from pain.
Jason Hanlon has suffered excruciating pain for the past two years having developed scoliosis.
Jason, from the village of Doochary, has been forced to wait in agony after his operation was cancelled a number of times.
But mum Liz and Jason’s entire family launched a huge campaign to keep pressure on the Department of Health.
And yesterday (Tues) the 26 year old finally underwent surgery at Dublin’s Tallaght hospital.
Jaosn’s emotional mum Liz has been keeping a bedside vigil along with her husband Patsy and the rest of the family.
Liz and Jason Hanlon post-surgery in Tallaght Hospital
His brother Adrian, a former Donegal GAA star, even flew in from London to be with the family.
Liz said that Jason is still getting a lot of pain relief but she was hoping this was the start of a new life for her son.
“He has suffered so much these past two years and to watch him crying in agony was heartbreaking for me as his mother and for his entire family.
“Christmas has come early for us but we are going to have such a great time this Christmas. We don’t need any presents this Christmas because Jason has received the best ever present by getting his operation at last,” she said.
Liz thanked everyone who has helped raise funds for Jason as well as the thousands of people who lobbied for him to have the operation and said prayers for him.
“I can’t thank people enough for what they have done for my son and I will never be able to thank them.
“I hope they can read this and see pictures of Jason smiling and that will be enough for them to realise what they have done for my family.
“We are a very normal family but the most extraordinary thing has happened to us and we want to just say thank you to so many people for changing Jason’s life and for changing our lives,” she said.
