TWO Bolton youngsters face life-saving bone marrow transplants today.

Little Tom Molyneux, aged five, and Charlotte Russell, aged 12, are both at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, to receive bone marrow from their brothers.

Both patients, whose chances are rated at 70pc, have so far responded well to pre-transplant treatment.

But the youngsters' parents face a wait of several days before they will know whether the transfusions have been a success.

Tom, who will receive bone marrow this evening from 18-year-old brother Lee in a bid to beat an early form of leukaemia, has been undergoing radiotherapy at Christie Hospital, Withington, Manchester.

His aunt Sandra Jackson said the schoolboy and his parents Karen and Roy, of Hibernia Street, Deane, were coping well.

She told the BEN: "They've been through such a lot and it's a worrying time, but Tom is doing well and Karen is keeping positive."

Sharples schoolgirl Charlotte Russell, who is fighting genetic disorder Fanconi anaemia, has received eight days of chemotherapy at Royal Manchester, where consultants will perform her transplant for the first time because of the rareness of her condition.

She was due to receive bone marrow from nine-year-old brother Nicholas at noon today.

Charlotte's dad Chris, of Sharples Avenue, Sharples, told the BEN: "It will be a long wait to see whether the bone marrow has been accepted, but Charlotte is doing well so far."

Both youngsters face weeks in isolation after their transplants to avoid infection.

Tom Molyneux's aunt Sandra Jackson is holding a fun day at St James's School, Farnworth, on Sunday to raise money for the five-year-old and his family.

The event, including tombola and stalls, will run from 1pm to 3pm.

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