Little Ian Blake Oswald is continuing to make &uot;slow but steady&uot; progress following a January 22 surgery to remove two large tumors, known as hypothalamic hamartomas, on his brain. The surgery was done in an attempt to stop the 100 or more debilitating seizures Ian has suffered every day.

His father, Greenville native Tony Oswald, said in a Friday telephone interview he is hopeful his 19-month-old son will be moved into a regular room this weekend.

The child is currently in the ICU unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Arizona.

&uot;Ian is doing better; he’s off the respirator and the feeding tube. He was riding around the ICU unit in his little wagon earlier and he will begin physical and speech therapy this weekend,&uot; said Oswald.

Doctors are hoping to get Ian’s anti-seizure medications regulated and see him eating more on his own in the next few days.

&uot;He is still weak from being in bed ten days, but he is progressing, it’s just slower than they thought it would be. But Ian is the youngest patient they have ever had to do this type of surgery on, and the only one so small to have two tumors removed,&uot; his dad explained.

Right now, Oswald said they are adopting a &uot;wait and see&uot; attitude in regards to Ian’s progress.

&uot;He may be in the hospital a few more days, or it may be a week or two. But we are staying hopeful he will be continue to do well.&uot;

To make donations to the Blake Oswald Fund, visit any Whitney Bank location.