Little Elie home from Boston

Boston took her to its heart and

now Elie Madden is back in Ireland after undergoing several major surgeries at Boston's Children’s Hospital, this as a result of her

rare medical condition which made eating and swallowing all but impossible.

Elie, just 18 months, was flown out of Boston last week on a specially equipped Irish Air Corps jet.

Following seven operations and 38 days in an induced coma, Elie now has a chance at a normal life.

Her family has been thanking donors who have so far given about $40,000 to help defray the considerable cost of travel and treatment over the months Elie was in Boston.