Yellowknife (Sep 08/04) - Eight-month-old Donavan Anderson, a Yellowknife youngster stricken with a rare disorder, is back and home and feeling better, his family says.

"He's doing really well," said his mother Jessica Short. "We have a doctor's appointment almost every day but he's doing much better."

Donavan returned to Yellowknife after spending time in an Edmonton hospital. The youngster suffered two strokes, due in part to a problem in his esophagus, which caused liquid to fill his lungs, said family friend Dolly Ablitt.

Doctors were able to bypass the problem by inserting a feeding tube into Donavan's stomach -- this led to a marked improvement in his condition, Short said.

A smiling Donavan was at the Raven Pub, Aug. 30, as owners Jim and Jackie Fontana, along with Ablitt, presented a $2,025 check to Short.

The money was raised by Ablitt and Fontana, who sold half-and-half tickets at the pub the last two weekends.

"The donation is greatly appreciated," said Short. "We're so grateful."

Ablitt said the pub's patrons were more than willing to support a cause like Donavan's and the majority of the half-and-half winners donated their winnings back to the family.

"The patrons were so unbelievable," said Ablitt. "Nobody hesitated. It seems like the biggest hearts in the NWT gather around here."