How do I trigger a dataList's selection changed after a refresh of its datasource

[RethaLam]

I have a custom view that list all the open orders of a customer. A Lot like the Order history except that it has a filter on and have buttons to edit, cancel, return, fulfill, print receipt etc. So it call mostly standard views, all in one place and for all types of orders, carry out, pickup as well as shipping orders.
There is no standard functionality to change the requested delivery date that is easy. Currently the only way is to edit the order, then click on the shipping all products button and then the user has to select again the shipping method, the shipping charge just to be able to change the requested delivery date.
I had to add a new button on my custom view that calls a custom operation that will call standard GetShippingDateClientRequest/Response to prompt for the date and then upon returning of the date, do a realtime call to HQ to update the requested delivery date on the salesTable and/or SalesLine. Everything works fine.
However I can refresh the view, but I want to select again the record that was selected to have its requested delivery date changed.
How do I do that? I have a View.ts where the dataList is and then the ViewModel.ts where the method is that is called on selection changed in the DataList.
On the datalist in View.ts: selectionChanged: this.viewModel.setSelectedItems.bind(this.viewModel),
In viewModel.ts is the setSelectedItems method.
After refresh of the datalist's datasource , still in VieModel.ts, I can call the above method and pass in the record that was selected before. It is applying it and then it is as if the framework or something is running the method again, this time with no record passed in and that is what breaks it.
There should be a way to be able to just call the selectionChanged event, but I cannot find any example in the RetailSDK that does it.
Any help is much appreciated.