text: When 18-year-old Jackson Byrnes was told he had only weeks to live, only one surgeon in Australia was willing to perform the surgery that would either save his life, leave him paralysed or worse. Incredibly, the teenager has woken up from having his catastrophic brain tumour removed with the ability to move his body, thank his surgeon and even to ask his relieved mother for food. ‘It’s such a relief, it’s just amazing. Jackson is a fighter!’ his mother Rhonda told Daily Mail Australia. His elated family are ‘over the moon’ that the surgery was more of a success than they dared to even dream it would be. In recovery, Jackson opened his eyes surrounded by his surgeon and family, who had been trying to prepare themselves for bad news. Jackson Byrnes, 18, underwent a risky operation to remove the tumour on his brain on Wednesday. it has been an enormous success . Renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo is the only surgeon in Australia who was willing to perform the risky operation that will hopefully buy Jackson more time . ‘The surgeon told Jackson to try and lift up his arm. And he did! Like that! We couldn’t believe it,’ his mother said. ‘And then he turned his head to the surgeon, Dr Teo, and said thank you. It was such a beautiful moment.’ Jackson's story made national headlines this week, with strangers digging deep to help the family, donating more than $95,000 in just over a week. Thousands of people helped to fund Jackson’s $80,000 operation and contribute to other medical costs. On Wednesday, his loved ones waited for seven anxious hours as world-renowned surgeon Dr Charlie Teo operated on the teen at the Prince of Wales hospital in Sydney’s east. Three weeks ago the teen from Casino in NSW's north was told by doctors that he had a stage four brain tumour that was too deep and aggressive to be safely operated on. Jackson's mother Rhonda Byrnes said she was overwhelmed by the support and money raised by the community on his GoFundMe page to help fun the crucial $80,000 operation . His family refused to accept the dismal diagnosis and took matters into their own hands and found Dr Teo, who said he was willing to perform the operation if the family understood the risks. Renowned neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo was the only surgeon in Australia willing to perform the risky operation that will likely see the Casino teenager paralysed. ‘We were told he would probably wake up and be paralysed down his left side. That was so hard to hear but we really had no choice in the end,' Rhonda told Daily Mail Australia. ‘We would have lost him, we had to take that chance.’ ‘I didn’t know where the hell I’d get the money, I just knew I have it no matter what. I would have gone to the ends of the earth for him,’ Rhonda said. Dr Teo told Daily Mail Australia that he hopes the surgery will buy the teen more time. 'If you can buy him time with surgery then the hope is you're going to get a good response to the chemotherapy and radiotherapy and a significant extension of time,' he said. 'Even if we could buy him six months of life the hope is we're going to come up with new treatment in that time.' Dr Teo said the $80,000 payment required for the surgery was standard. The 18-year-old (pictured left, getting his head shaved) at a recent fundraising event . The Byrnes family have already endured the ‘four weeks from hell’. It was an emotion-filled moment on Wednesday morning as they waited for Jackson to go into theatre at 9.30am. ‘We all had so much anxiety before the surgery. It was a seven hour long procedure and the unknown was driving me crazy,’ said Rhonda on Wednesday night. ‘Before he went in he said he was anxious. Not knowing what he’s up for.’ ‘He was a bit upset before the surgery. He went really quiet. We were trying not to be scared,’ said his 17-year-old little brother Maton. ‘But everyone was just focussed on believing that he was going to come out of the surgery alright.’ It was a tense wait for his family and loved ones. ‘I couldn’t stop thinking about him in there all by himself, even though I knew he was in the best of hands,’ said Rhonda. Jackson needs $80,000 by Tuesday night in order to pay for his surgery upfront, and another $45,00 for fees . But it wasn't long before the Byrnes family were laughing again. Rhonda couldn’t believe it when, after such an intense surgery, her cheeky son was back to his old tricks. She had quickly ducked away from the hospital after visiting her son in recovery. Jackson’s name popped up on Rhonda’s phone screen. ‘I thought it would be his girlfriend Jahnae calling to update me on his condition after such an intense surgery,’ Rhonda said. ‘Instead I heard Jackson’s voice and he said to me: “Mum, hi! What are you up to? I feel great, but I’m really hungry,”’ Rhonda laughs. ‘He was just talking like normal and looking for food. We had been to told to expect he’d be paralysed! There is still a long road to go for young Jackson, much of it unknown. ‘Four weeks ago he was a fit young fellow and had his own future ahead of him,’ Rhonda said. Dr Teo will try to remove 95 per cent of the tumour, which has extended to very sensitive part of the brain . ‘He’s still fighting, it is overwhelming.’ The family have gained strength from the love and support they have received from thousands of people who have rallied around them. ‘It’s incredible to have everyone coming together for us. Our phone has been running hot, even from strangers calling wanting to help however they can or see how Jackson is,’ said Rhonda. ‘It makes us so happy. I don’t know how we could have done it without ‘Team Jacko’. Jackson’s heartbroken mother Rhonda had been told the incredibly risky surgery. After a tense seven hour long wake, Jackson woke But when Jackson woke up, the was told to try and lift his left arm and he did! Then he turned his head to Dr Teo and said thank you. It was such a beautiful moment. At the end of a long day, . We all had so much anxiety before the surgery. It was a seven hour long procedure and the unknown was driving me crazy. ‘Before he went in he said he was anxious. Not knowing what he’s up for.’ Jackson Byrnes was diagnosed with a stage four tumour three weeks ago and needed $80,000 for surgery . ‘He was a bit upset before the surgery. He went really quiet. We were trying not to be scared,’ said his 17-year-old little brother Maton. ‘But everyone was just focussed on believing that he was going to come out of the surgery alright.’ It was a tense wait for his family and loved ones. I couldn’t stop thinking about him in there all by himself, even though I knew he was in the best of hands. No one else would operate, they wouldn’t even attempt. It was an enormous relief when Dr Teo took on his surgery, words can’t describe the relief. The response from everybody – including so many strangers – has been amazing, . Dr Teo had predicted that he would remove 95 per cent of the tumour. Most of the tumour has been successfully removed but the Byrnes family are yet exactly how much. Jackson's girlfriend Jahnae Jackson (right) noticed he had developed a lump three weeks ago and prompted him to visit a doctor who requested an MRI .
target: Doctors found Jackson Byrnes' aggressive brain tumour three weeks ago .
  Only one surgeon in Australia, Dr Charlie Teo, was willing to operate .
  More than $95,000 was raised for Jackson by strangers to pay for the $80,000 surgery and help fund his treatment .
  It was expected Jackson would wake paralysed from the extremely risky op .
  Instead, he woke up and moved his arms, head and thanked Dr Teo .
  It's hoped the operation has bought him more time .