Despite all the media attention young Mackenzie Olsen has received over the last several months, his father, Ray Amato, says he's doing 'really well.'

Ten-year-old Olsen, a member of the Na-cho Nyak Dun First Nation and formerly of Mayo, suffers from the rare Hurler/Scheie syndrome, which is an enzyme disease affecting his mobility, senses and internal organs.

The lack of the alpha-L-iduronidase enzyme in his body causes toxins to build up and creates swelling in his body. The disease has already reduced Olsen's eyesight and hearing. The condition is ultimately fatal.

Olsen's family moved to Alberta from Mayo about a year ago to be closer to the children's hospital in Calgary.

Olsen's situation began to gain public attention in April when the clinical trial of his enzyme replacement therapy, Aldurazyme, ended.

The therapy, which costs approximately $16,800 per week, is not covered by Health Canada's medicare program.

The federal government is now reviewing whether the enzyme replacement therapy should be covered.

The common drug review will conclude on June 15. The findings will then go through an embargo period before any decision is released to the public around July 17.

After lobbying various levels of government for months, Amato and the Assembly of First Nations filed a lawsuit against the federal and Alberta governments for refusing to finance Olsen's treatments.

Only days later, the Calgary Health Region volunteered to provide temporary help to Olsen.

'It's an interim solution,' Leanne Niblock, spokesperson for the Calgary Health Region, said in an interview Tuesday.

The therapy will be provided until a long-term solution can be reached, she said.

The region will continue to fund the therapy until at least Sept. 30, she added.

However, if no decision regarding the drug has been reached at that time, the region will have to review the status of their funding, she said.

Despite the funding, the Calgary Health Region still believes it's the responsibility of the federal government and the drug's manufacturer, Genzyme Corp., to reach a solution in a timely manner, said Niblock.

In the meantime, the region and the children's hospital won't let Olsen go without this medical necessity, she added.

Even with the funding, Olsen is only receiving 40 per cent of his original treatment, said Amato. However, he added, his son seems quite healthy, and his doctor will ask for changed dosages if needed.

The family is now waiting for some test results on Olsen's health and the end of the drug review, he added.

The lull is enabling Olsen and the family to return to some semblance of a normal life, he said.

Olsen is especially looking forward to a visit from his grandmother, aunts and some cousins during the summer months, he added.

His son will also have another trip to look forward to, Amato said, though Olsen hasn't been told yet.

The Mayo Fire Department has volunteered to pay for the cost of a family member to return to the community to visit.

'This decision was made as a whole fire department,' fire chief Calvin Hoogland said Tuesday.

The fire department had originally planned to donate money to help cover the costs of his medical treatments, he said.

But now that it's covered for the moment, the department has decided to give family members the opportunity to visit each other.

'They've got lots of family up here,' he said.

'That's fantastic,' said Amato of the pending trip.

He said Olsen is expected to visit in August, between two of his treatments.

The support from the Yukon has been 'tremendous,' said Amato.

'Thank you so very much to everyone up there,' he said. 'We truly do appreciate it.'

The boy's plight has been raised in the Yukon legislature this spring and has attracted national publicity.