Gift of life

Young Nathan Hartley has just had a life-saving bone marrow transplant - find out how to become a donor

Nathan Hartley has been allowed home for Christmas following a life-saving bone marrow transplant at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The plucky 12-year-old is one of four young brothers all diagnosed with a rare fatal disease.

It is hoped that the transplant will combat the killer condition 'Duncan's Syndrome' which he and his three brothers were all diagnosed with.

Joshua (13) and Daniel (9) have already had the operation and are recovering back at the family home in Romsey. Luke (5) who shares the same mystery donor as Nathan, will hopefully have his transplant next year.

Hereditary disorder

The four Hartley brothers were diagnosed with the extremely rare genetic condition, also known as X-linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (XPL), in November 2003.

Only 100 families in the world have so far been diagnosed with it and the chances of all four of the Hartley boys having the hereditary disorder are eight million to one.

It is likely, however, that there are many more cases where the correct diagnosis has not been made.

XLP can have many symptoms including:

• Severe glandular fever
• Cancer of the blood (lymphoma)
• An inability to fight off infections
• Severe anaemia

70% of individuals with XLP die by the age of 10 years without any treatment.

The doctors in this particular case said that the only cure was a bone marrow transplant which should give them normal life expectancy.

The boys' mother, Allison Hartley, was matched as a donor for Joshua and over the months potential donors were also found for Daniel, Nathan and Luke.

More donors needed

Since going public with their appeal for more bone marrow donors, the UK 's Anthony Nolan Trust has had over 16,000 responses from people wanting to join their bone marrow donor register.

But today there is still the need for more donors for the 7,000 people, young and old, waiting for a life saving or changing transplant around the globe.

For more information about becoming a bone marrow donor contact the Anthony Nolan Trust on 020 7284 1234. (You can also join the NHS Organ Donor Register by calling 0845 60 60 400.)