Final preparations ahead of life-changing surgery for Billy in LA

Castlederg youngster Billy Caldwell was diagnosed with Hippocampal Sclerosis after a week of intensive tests in the United States - and is due to have surgery that could leave the 11-year-old 'seizure-free' in the 'next few weeks'.

Billy Caldwell, the Castlederg youngster who's travelled with his family to the US in order to receive life-saving treatment for his epilepsy, has moved one step closer to becoming "seizure-free".

Billy's mother, Charlotte, says Doctor Nordli - the leading epileptologist who first treated Billy 9 years ago - is now putting the finishing touches on preparations for surgery which would put an end to the seizures that have plagued the 11-year-old his whole life.

Last week, following a full round of tests in LA, Billy was diagnosed with Hippocampal Sclerosis - a progressive illness that if left untreated would see his epileptic seizures worsen and ultimately cut short his young life.

Now he's due for a major scan, which will determine the extent of the damage the condition has had on his brain.

Depending on the outcome of that scan, expert surgeons will then determine the extent of any surgery which would ultimately rid the County Tyrone youngster of his intractable epilepsy.

"They've given Billy drugs to hold his seizures at bay," Charlotte Caldwell, Billy's mum told Q Radio News.

"The next step is a PET scan, as Doctor Nordli needs to present to the neurosurgeon and the surgical team the actual dimensions of the lesion or the scarring that the Hippocampal Sclerosis has created," she continued.

"It's on his front left lobe and because they'll have to make a decision - depending on the size of the lesion - if they can remove it without removing all of the front left lobe that'll be the ideal outcome, but we'll not know until he's had that scan," she added.

Charlotte is under no illusions as to what the surgery could mean.

"The surgery would save Billy's life - because his condition is progressive - if left untreated the unthinkable, the inevitable would happen. So, this would save his wee life," she told Q Radio News.

And she's incredibly hopeful that following further scans, that surgeons will be able to carry out the procedure "in the next few weeks".

"I won't know as yet, but I'd say it'll be in the next few weeks because what Doctor Nordli realised during the tests was the severity of his seizures, and the life-threatening nature of them - they are very severe," she said. 

"Obviously, I would think he'd like the procedure to go ahead as soon as possible," she told Q radio news.

LISTEN: Hear a full update on Billy's condition from his mum Charlotte, she's been speaking to Q Radio's Paul Gill.