Well-wishes from Port star after Marley’s surgery to fix damage from toy lodged in his throat for five years

With a host of friends and supporters flying over to Melbourne with his family, Marley – who had a plastic flower stuck in his throat for five years – is recovering after surgery.

The Adelaide boy who had a toy lodged in his throat for five years has undergone successful surgery, with the diehard Port Adelaide fan receiving some special get well wishes from his footy hero.

The eight-year-old underwent major surgery in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon to repair the damage caused by a plastic flower, believed to have been there for half a decade.

Surgeons operated for more than eight hours to repair his oesophagus and trachea, which had been fused together by the toy.

“It felt like a week, we were sitting out the front of recovery for hours and hours,” Marley’s dad, Jay Enjakovic, said.

Mr Enjakovic said his AFL-mad son was “just Marley” the whole way through, kicking a footy just minutes before going into the theatre.

“I said, ‘Goodbye buddy, off you go. You’re a big dozer and you’ll push through like you do’, and he had a smile on his face, gave me a thumbs up on his way in,” Mr Enjakovic said.

“He just takes everything on the chin, he’s just an absolute soldier.”

Marley’s persistent cough had been brushed off as asthma by doctors, until he was rushed to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in December last year when his health turned critical.

Marley at his last football game on Sunday, before he underwent surgery. Picture: Tom Huntley

The eight-year-old had a plastic flower lodged in his throat for five years.

As he faces two to three weeks in recovery after successful surgery, the diehard Port Adelaide fan received a message from his favourite player, Ollie Wines.

“Hey Marley, all the best with the recovery mate,” Wines said in a video recorded for Marley.

“Hope all goes well and you’ll be out here having a kick of the footy soon.”

Marley – often described by mates as “little Ollie Wines” – booted four goals of his own in his last game for Port District Football Club last Sunday.

“They belted out the song at the end for one last time … he’s got such a good bunch of lads around him there,” Mr Enjakovic said.

Marley’s best footy mate, Zodhi Blacktopp, and his parents Craig and Sonia, flew to Melbourne with the Enjakovic family to support them through his surgery.

Mr Enjakovic said Marley was out kicking the footy with Zodhi just five minutes before entering the theatre.

“They’ve been together non-stop until Marley had his operation,” he said.

“For (the family) to do that is such a special thing, to take his mind off it and to help Skye and I.”

Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines sent his well-wishes to Marley.

Marley Enjakovic with his best mate Zodhi Blacktopp before his surgery in Melbourne.

Also by Marley’s side was WCH paediatric surgeon Dr Annie Roberts, who initially discovered the blockage in Marley’s throat back in December last year.

Described by Mr Enjakovic as an “incredible support to the family”, Dr Roberts flew to Melbourne to be there through his nine-hour surgery on Tuesday.

“She came over from Adelaide and touched base with us (from inside the theatre) every couple of hours about the major milestones in the operation,” Mr Enjakovic said.

“She’s been an absolute rock for us, especially back in Adelaide. For her to come to Melbourne with us, you couldn’t wish for it better.”

After spending more than four months in hospital through his ordeal, Marley had one wish, Mr Enjakovic said. He wanted to give back to those who saved his life.

Mr Enjakovic said the family had been floored by the generosity of friends, family and strangers, with a fundraiser for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Marley’s name already reaching its $2000 goal.

You can donate to Marley’s fundraiser here.