Brave leukaemia patient Jonathan Clark has been given a life saving bone marrow transplant from a mystery donor.

The Oxford schoolboy, who had been told he could die from the disease any day, is now recovering in the Royal Marsden Hospital in London after the two-hour operation.

A donor, believed to be from Cornwall, was found in just six weeks and the 11-year-old is now out of isolation and due to return to his home in Fettiplace Road, Barton, later this week.

Dad Gary, 42, who has maintained a vigil at Jonathan's bedside in the children's cancer unit, spoke today of his joy at the success of the operation. "It seems to have done the job and hopefully he will be home by the end of this week at the latest. When he came out of isolation six days ago it was amazing. It was such a sight to see.

"Jonathan is happy and pretty lively. He is sleepy part of the time but otherwise he is reasonably well.

"I feel an immense sense of relief and I am very happy. It will be good to get back home to celebrate."

Single father Gary, who also has a daughter Lisa, nine, added that he felt "immense gratitude" to the anonymous donor, who had given his son a second chance at life.

Jonathan hit the headlines last December after he was denied disability living allowance because he could walk 75 yards, despite being told he was at death's door. But after a five month battle - with the help of the Oxford Mail - the Benefits Agency reviewed the case and granted Jonathan the allowance.

He is still receiving the money which is needed to pay taxis for hospital visits.

Jonathan, who is too ill to go to school, was diagnosed with leukaemia last September. The illness went into remission in February last year after chemotherapy but returned in October.

After intensive chemotherapy treatment at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, Jonathan was bought back into remission so that the operation could go ahead. Gary said it would be about five years before it was known whether Jonathan was completely out of danger and for the next 12 months he would be vulnerable to infections and not up to full strength.

But he said Jonathan should be able to return eventually to a normal life, including being fit enough to go back to school.

Story date: Wednesday 07 April

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