A NEWPORT boy is today recovering after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

Thomas Steer, ten, had the transplant on Friday at Bristol Children's Hospital.

His parents, Jeff and Karen, say Thomas is doing well.

Mr Steer said: "It went as sweet as a nut and it was only an hour long. Thomas is doing well at the moment and is as happy as can be expected."

Thomas has been at the children's hospital for the last couple of weeks preparing for the transplant, receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

The youngster from Alway was first diagnosed with leukaemia in 2001. After it returned in August, his parents were told that his best hope of a cure was a bone marrow transplant.

His parents were ruled out as donors but, as the Argus revealed last month, there were three possible matches for their son in Germany.

Bone marrow from a man in Germany was sent to the hospital on Friday morning and the transplant took place at 6pm.

Mr Steer said from the hospital last night: "Thomas was recovering well after the transplant, but now he is feeling some of the side effects, which is to be expected.

"He is as cheerful as can be expected and Karen and I are staying by his bedside while he is in the isolation ward."

After the transplant, Thomas will stay in the Isolation ward for around four to six weeks.

Mr Steer said: "Everyone at Bristol has been great and the hospital house we are staying in is absolutely beautiful.

"We have to be brave now and wait until he can go back to the hospital in Cardiff, that is the best plan we could hope for."