Christmas is going to be different this year for Tim Donovan.

It will be the first holiday season the longtime Fredericton Junction councillor has enjoyed since family, friends and neighbours raised more than $10,000 to help him pay for the liberation treatment – a new procedure for multiple sclerosis patients that has yet to be approved by Health Canada.

Donovan and thousands of other Canadians with MS have been travelling to clinics in places such as the United States, Bulgaria and Mexico to have the treatment, which involves improving the flow of blood through a patient’s veins.

Donovan, who was diagnosed with MS more than 23 years ago, said the changes in his life have been remarkable since having the procedure in August.

He said his mobility and balance have greatly improved, he has more feeling in his extremities and his energy level has jumped.

He’s looking forward to spending quality time with his grandchildren over the holidays.

“They have their grandfather back. They used to go to the hospital every year to visit me and wonder if I was going to die,” he said.

The past few Christmas holidays have been difficult for Donovan, who often missed most of these special moments due to a severely depleted energy level. But he’s expecting Christmas morning to be different this year.

“Last year, the doctor told me he didn’t think I’d walk again and he took my driver’s licence away. Last month, I got it back,” he said.

“So that’s my early Christmas present – I got my driver’s licence back.”