Boy's stem cell transplant 'a little miracle'

The mother of a teenager who has undergone a stem cell transplant to treat his leukaemia said it has been a "little miracle happening".

More than 700 people signed up to be potential donors for 16-year-old Leo, from Bromsgrove, and a match for a donor was found just before Christmas.

After a delay to allow more tests to be carried out, he travelled to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital as treatment started on Wednesday.

His mother, Jenna, said he was now recovering well, and added: "I can't explain in words how amazing it is."

Jenna said they had to wait until the evening for the transplant to take place, but it was "really amazing to watch".

The treatment continued on Thursday and she said the family was very emotional to see it finally happen.

"It was such a build up to it and then once it was done everyone just felt exhausted," she said.

Since the transplant she said her son had been up into the early hours playing games, and added: "That's the Leo we all know."

The next step will be another round of chemotherapy and she said she knows her son can deal with it.

"I know the next few days are going to be hard, but I have also seen the positive that he feels from the stem cell transplant," she said.

Jenna said the transplant had given her son a "second chance".

"My little boy's life has been saved by a complete stranger and there will never be enough thanks in the world to thank them," she added.

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