NEWPORT leukaemia sufferer Thomas Steer will have a potential life-saving bone marrow transplant tomorrow.

Parents Jeff and Karen have been with the youngster at Bristol Children's Hospital for the last couple of weeks awaiting test results to confirm whether his transplant could go ahead.

They were told the operation will go ahead tomorrow, and Thomas has been receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment in preparation.

The nine-year-old 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.

Mr Steer said: "Bone marrow from a man in Germany will be sent over tomorrow morning and Thomas will have the transplant tomorrow evening.

"Thomas is happy and is having several doses of radiotherapy until the transplant."

After the transplant Thomas will stay in the isolation ward for around six to eight weeks.

"The ward was a bit daunting at first but it's nice, the hospital house we are staying in is absolutely beautiful," Mr Steer added.

Half sister Tammy, 26, visited the youngster earlier this week.

She said: "He is doing brilliantly, he has finished his chemotherapy and is starting his radiation treatment.