After the operation, Alex's grandad Bill Malehorn, heard Alex say 'mummy, they removed my booboo.'

Doctors have said the tumour was removed with no complications for the four-year-old from Fleckney, who is now in intensive care at the Wolfson Children's Hospital, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Alex's grandad, Bill Malehorn, said: "Rosalie stayed at the hospital last night by his bedside. He was conscious for a little while and I heard him say 'mummy, they removed my booboo.'"

Alex had a MRI scan on Monday, which showed up some grey matter but this was proved to be just scar tissue.

He had a follow-up MRI scan yesterday (Thursday), which was clear. He is expected to be move from ICU to a regular room this afternoon.

Rosalie's brother, Alex's uncle Julian, who lives in Jacksonville said: "I'm grateful to all of you for supporting my family. Alex is awake and he's doing great. His colour is good and there's no swelling or problems with his eyes."

The youngster and his mum Rosalie were able to jet off last Wednesday to meet the consultants and doctors at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, after an appeal was launched to raise the £70,000 needed for the operation.

About £25,000 was raised in just five days of the appeal and Alex's grandad Ron, of Albert Road, Fleckney, also donated £30,000 of his life-savings.

The total raised through Alex's school, Stoneygate School, in Great Glen, is close to £38,000 so far.

Alex's dad, Paul and sister Felicity (7), who are still in the UK, were anxiously awaiting news on Alex's condition last night.

Mrs Barnes said Alex was being his normal happy self over the weekend and the pair went bowling and played on the beach.

Alex had a small operation on Tuesday to insert a tube into his chest to make it easier to give him drugs.

Mrs Barnes, who is from Weymouth, emigrated to Florida when she was 11 when her mum married an American man. She later returned to the UK when she was 17 but her mum and stepdad still live in Florida. Alex and his mum are staying at their home while they are there.

The doctors at Wolfson Children's Hospital waived the operation fee after Alex's grandparents approached them for help – leaving just the proton treatment to pay for.

Alex was featured on a local news station in Jacksonville on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. And the doctors who performed the operation gave a statement to the news crew afterwards.

The youngster's parents were given the news about his condition on September 16 – Mrs Barnes' 44th birthday.

Mrs Barnes said: "It's a parent's worst nightmare. I was lost for words I just felt like someone had stabbed me in the chest."

She added: "He could have the operation in the UK but he would be offered radiotherapy, which can only be done once and can cause brain damage. We did some research and discovered a proton treatment, which has good results and does not have the same side-effects as radiotherapy. But it's not available in the UK."

Alex and his seven-year-old sister, Felicity, are pupils of Stoneygate School in Great Glen along with the daughter of former Leicester City Footballer Muzzy Izzet, who supported the family's appeal.

Alex was first diagnosed with a brain tumour known as a anaplastic ependymoma in February 2006.