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Waiting game
PARENTS are anxiously waiting to see if a life-saving cancer operation on their young son has been a success.
Hartlepool couple Tracy and Gary Downes were left devastated after their son Bradley, seven, "turned green" and was rushed to hospital in Leeds. During a 15-hour operation he had a tumour in his pancreas removed.
And now they are waiting to see if the operation has been successful.
But the couple, of Frensham Drive, say that the support of friends and family has helped them to cope.
Tracy, 35 said: "It's a waiting game. He has been really brave and never once complained.
"I can't put into words what it has been like.
"We are still anxious, demented would be a word for me at the moment."
Bradley was admitted to the University Hospital of Hartlepool on October 13 after becoming increasingly jaundiced and lethargic.
No reason for his sickness could be pinpointed and two days later he was allowed to go home.
But after he turned what his mum described as "green" he was admitted to the famous St James' Hospital in Leeds, otherwise known as 'Jimmy's'.
He was given a number of tests including an ultrasound, a CT scan, a bone scan and an MRI scan.
Doctors revealed they would have to operate to remove a tumour from Bradley's pancreas.
During the 15-hour operation on December 11, doctors removed the head and middle of Bradley's pancreas, his gall bladder, part of his small bowel and part of his stomach. Now the family are waiting to hear whether Bradley will be given the all-clear.
But despite the harrowing ordeal his parents, who also have a four-year-old daughter called Niamh, say friends and family helped make sure they could still celebrate Christmas in style.
A neighbour, Mike Hair, helped to organise a van for design technology teacher Gary, 36, so he could take Bradley's Christmas presents to him in Leeds on Christmas Eve.
Tracy's relatives and friends also arranged an alternative Christmas Day on December 29 so the family could enjoy the day together after Bradley's discharge on December 27.
And neighbours and Bradley's school, St Aidan's Church of England Memorial Primary School, helped to raise cash to buy Bradley's dream Christmas present, a PlayStation games console.
Tracy said: "Everybody has just been really great. We want to say a big thank you to everybody."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
