A teenager who has stayed indoors for a year is to jet off to the United States for a life-saving operation after a lengthy search for a bone marrow transplant donor.

Divyesh, 19, from Leicester, was the youngest person to be diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder Mylo-Desplastic Syndrome which usually affects people aged over 40.

He was diagnosed four years ago and it has taken that long to find someone who can donate bone marrow to help cure him.

It was more likely he would find a donor from people of the same ethnic background and very few Asian's are on donor registers.

'Normal life'

Divyesh said: "I am really glad that I have got this match. I am really lucky.

"There are a lot of Asian people on the list that are waiting."

Within the Asian community it is like looking for a needle in a haystack

Barbara Elsey, donor charity

Divyesh has had to stay indoors for the past 12 months because of the risk of infection but is looking forward to stepping outside again.

"I just want to get back to normal and have a normal life and see my friends again and do normal things."

Officials from the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, which identified Divyesh's donor, have said very few donors on their lists are from an Asian background.

An international search for a donor took place

After local and national appeals for a donor for Divyesh failed, the bone marrow charity began an international search.

Barbara Elsey, from the charity, said: "Less than 2% of our register is made up of people from an Asian background.

"Within the Asian community it is like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Divyesh said he counts himself lucky but urged more donors from the Asian community to come forward.

"There are a lot of Asian people who need a bone marrow transplant."

It is hoped Divyesh will be flying out for the operation in September.

He said: "Before the operation they will do a few things like give me chemotherapy then they will put the new bone marrow in.

"That will take three weeks to settle, it will take about four weeks to recover."