YOUNG Nathan Howarth is making good progress in hospital after a vital operation last month.

The six-year-old had a stem cell transplant at the end of February which, if successful, will extend his life considerably.

He has to stay in an isolation room at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital at Pendlebury until he gets the all-clear.

He then has to spend five months indoors to reduce the chances of infection.

Nathan has suffered from rare Falconi's Anaemia for four years, a condition that leaves him exhausted and pale. Doctors told his parents, Denise Kelly and Mick Howarth, from Great Lever, their son would have around a year to live without the transplant. Nathan's little sister Hannah provided the vital stem cells from her umbilical cord when she was born six months ago.

Miss Kelly said: "Nathan's getting a bit bored but we expected that.

"It's hard for him being stuck in one room all the time.

"The treatment appears to be going well, although he does have a bad ulcers down his throat, gullet and into his stomach.

"We were warned that might happen and it is painful".

Nathan cannot digest food and is being fed through a special tube.

If successful, the transplant will mean he will live into adulthood, by which time, it is hoped a cure will be found.