Callum Barrett, the toddler who is allergic to life, last night faced another operation just a week after undergoing three on the same day.
The Moredon youngster, who will be two next month, suffers from a rare immune disorder called hypogammaglobulinemia, which breaks down his natural defences against everyday life.
Last Tuesday, he had a bowel biopsy and a gastrotomy a procedure used to insert a feeding tube through the skin into the stomach.
On the same day, doctors at Bristol Children's Hospital cut open his stomach in an attempt to shrink his oesophagus to combat his excessive vomiting.
It was thought the operations had been a success, but yesterday doctors decided to operate on his large bowel after his body continued to reject nutrients fed via a tube. Callum's grandmother, Jill Barrett, said she felt utterly deflated by the news.
"It has gone from bad to worse," she said. "The doctors had carried out tests and X-rays and at first decided against another operation.
"But after Callum had a sleep at lunchtime the nutrients from the feeding tube had just gone straight through him.
"He wasn't taking any of it in. I feel so sad and can't really believe it."
The toddler has lost even more weight in the eleven days he has spent in hospital. He previously weighed only 19lbs the average weight of a 10-month-old baby.
Last night he was having a feeding tube attached to his neck to replace one in his stomach while he recovers from the latest operation.
It is likely he will need blood transfusions every three weeks for the rest of his life to top up his immune system with white blood cells that fight infection.
"We have no idea when he will be back at home with us but we are hoping it will be very soon," said Jill. "His sister, Sophie, is missing him very much but she has been very good and understanding."
Callum's mum Michelle, 23, and her partner Darren May, 27, have been keeping a constant vigil at his hospital bedside.
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