Update from Alan

I am excellent form after my operation on October 17th. My parents and I went to "The Big Apple" on October 13th for the second stage of my operation..

The operation on 17th of October took a long thirteen hours which involved taking my left hip bone along with veins, vessels, cells, arteries and skin from my back to be implanted to my chin.

I wasn't sore at all from the operation. People can't under-stand why I never give into pain. To be honest with every-one the reason why I wont say "Yes I was in pain" is because I was on a lot of antibiotics and pain-killers after my procedure. The only time I was sore was when the infection site had to be cleaned three times a day.

An infection set into my left jaw-bone around Christmas time the doctors' treated with antibiotics and cleaned it every-day. The antibiotics weren't helping at all to clear the infection. That meant the surgeon's last idea to do was to remove my original jaw bone on December 21st. Thankfully the infection cleared after the bone was removed.

I paid Dr Rose, Dr Greenberg and Dr Taub daily visits every-day since I was let out of hospital (on three different occasions)

We enjoyed New York during November as my aunt Grace Mc Colgan sprung a huge suprise on me by landing over to New York to see us for two weeks.

My Mum and I, along with auinty Grace were taken to Central park Zoo, The Rockfeller Center, Saint Patrick's Cathedral by a female police woman. The trip by the N.Y.P.D. was set up by Paul Mc Bride and Brian Mc Cormack a native of Ballyshannon, Co Donegal who is involved with the N.Y.P.D.

My Mum and I departed New York FINALLY in early January to go home to Donegal where we'd retuirn to normal. We were greeted by Paul Mc Bride the morning we got home along with his son Sean and Ivan Little from U.T.V.

I was afraid to come home at first for fear I would be caught in Immigrations with officials mixing me up for George Clooney or Steve Staunton as I still got my old picture on my passport soon will need a new picture on it.

Sometime next month we go back to New York for an un-sheduled surgery on March 25th. The surgery on March 25th will involve taking bone from my right hip this time, (as my left bone is my new chin bone now) my back or somewhere down along my leg to be implanted to my left jaw where my original bone was.

Dr Rose, Dr Taub and Dr Greenberg don't know how long I'll be kept in New York after the operation in March. Possibly four to six weeks if no infections set in.

I have met many famous people since the fundraising has kicked off last April. I have met famous people like The Lisbon Lions Celtic 1967 squad and done the first thing no Rangers member or fan ever done before (YET ANYWAY) that was to lift the European Cup with Billy Mc Neill, Paul Mc Bride and my brother Daniel.

I met Daniel O'Donnell back-stage in the new Leisure Centre in Letterkenny in August when he came to open the new leisure centre.

Great credit has to go to Dennis O'Donnell and Paddy Sweeney and all the members at The Donegal-Celtic-Supporters' Club who have set up a trip for my family, aunt Grace, my cousin Darren, Paul Mc Bride, his dad and brother and I to see Celtic play Dundee United on September 29th 2007 That was the best day of my life so far and it was a humbling experience. I met The Celtic Football squad I got a signed Celtic jersey on the day which was presented to me by Stephen Mc Manus on the centre circle before the match began. We met Gordan Strachan the Celtic Manager. Gordan Strachan heard all about my story and was delighted to see me. Myself, Paul Mc bride and Dennis O'Donnell got tickets to sit up at the coporate box to see Celtic trash Dundee 3-0 all goals were scored by Scott Mc Donald. At the half-time interval myself, Paul Mc Bride and Dennis O'Donnell were taken back onto the centre circle to take part in the half-time Paradise Windfall draw. "I received a standing ovation from the 60,000 supporters that were in Parkhead" on my way off the pitch at Half-time.

I met Gabrielle recently. Gabrielle is a journalist who is doing a massive charity ball for my fund in April with Berti Ahern along with Noel Cummingham from South Donegal.. My family, relatives and The Friends of Alan Doherty Fund" Committee don't know if I can attend Gabrielle's Ball in April. It's completely up to the surgepns and how I recover.

It was a humbling experience to be on the Late Late Show (the interview can be still seen on www.rte.ie) We were amazed when we were asked back on the show when my surgeries are all complete.

We are really pleased and impressed with people sending us letters of get better soon, and donating money to the bank as well as setting up any fundraising events in Ireland.

It goes to show you and every-one else it's incredible how much money can be raised when small communities come together to take part in any charity fundraiser.

I would like to say a huge thanks to the Councillers in the Letterkenny Area who have myself and Paul Mc Bride the chairman for "The Friends of Alan Doherty Fund" nominated for the Donegal joint people of the year. It has been an honour to even be honoured for such a top award.

Thanks very much to all the people in Ireland that we don't even know who have helped my fund in any-way at all.