Joshua may have to stay in hospital for the next two months

Allison Hartley was found to match Joshua, 12, who, along with his three brothers, has the potentially fatal X-linked lymphoproliferative disease.

Mrs Hartley, of Romsey, Hampshire, underwent a harvesting procedure of stem cells before Joshua's transplant transfusion on Wednesday.

From his bed Joshua told the BBC he was very tired and missing his brothers.

I'm missing home now - a lot Joshua Hartley

"I'm very tired because I've had stuff to help the bone marrow settle in so I don't have any reactions to it", Joshua told BBC South's health correspondent David Fenton.

Joshua was speaking while having his transplant transfusion at the world-famous Great Ormond Street children's hospital in London.

He said: "I'm missing home now - a lot.

"To the boys at home - I'm missing you lots, and to my school friends - I'm missing you too."

Joshua underwent nine days of chemotherapy in isolation before Wednesday's transfusion.

Doctors say a bone marrow transplant is the only cure for his condition, also known as XLP.

His father, David, said on Wednesday: "He remains in good spirits and is very pleased that dad has brought his laptop in."

Transplant 'only cure'

Doctors will monitor the 12-year-old over the next 10 days to see if his body begins producing new bone marrow cells.

It is likely he will have to stay in hospital for the next two months.

Joshua's four brothers - Nathan, 10, Daniel, eight, and Luke, four - were all diagnosed along with Joshua with the extremely rare genetic XLP, also known as Duncan's Syndrome, in November.

A potential donor has been found for Daniel but matches are still required for Nathan and Luke.