Transplant brother returns home

Daniel Hartley (second from left) is re-united with his brothers at home

The second of four brothers diagnosed with one of the world's rarest fatal illnesses has returned home after a successful bone marrow transplant.

Daniel Hartley has spent two months at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital after the life-saving operation.

Daniel and his brothers Josh, Nathan, and Luke, from Romsey, Hants, have the extremely rare genetic disorder XLP, which attacks the immune system.

Nathan, 11, and Luke, four, undergo their transplants later this year.

Without the transplants the boys would have been unlikely to live past their teens.

Joshua had his transplant last year after his mother Allison was a match. He hopes to go back to school later this month.

Daniel was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London

A single other anonymous donor was found for the other boys after a successful worldwide appeal.

David Hartley said that his son would now be in semi-isolation at home because his immune system was weak and he was prone to infection such as colds and chickenpox.

"This is great news and another milestone for the family that Daniel is home," he said.

"We have had two of our boys who have successfully gone through the transplant, now we have two more to go.

Nathan's should take place towards the end of April and Luke towards the end of the year.

"Daniel is full of beans and energy and he has been pretty well all the way through the transplant," he added.