Transplant brother back to school

Joshua Hartley (third from left) returned to school on Wednesday

The first of four brothers diagnosed with one of the world's rarest fatal illnesses has been back to school for the first time following his operation.

Joshua Hartley and his brothers Daniel, Nathan, and Luke, from Romsey, Hants, suffer from the genetic disorder XLP, which attacks the immune system.

Joshua, 12, had a bone marrow transplant in June last year after his mother Allison was found to be a match.

He was back in school on Wednesday for the first time since May last year.

'Deliriously happy'

Joshua, who is in year eight at Romsey School, returned for a careers advice day and to catch up with his friends.

Joshua's father David Hartley said his son would return properly to school either on Friday, or next week, depending on his state of health.

Joshua had his bone marrow transplant in June 2003

"He was deliriously happy about going in to see his old school mates," Mr Hartley said.

But he said it would take Joshua two years for his immune system to recover fully from the transplant.

Joshua's brother Daniel, eight, underwent surgery in November and is now back at home recovering.

Nathan, 10, and Luke, four, are due to undergo their transplants later this year.

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