THE family of stem cell transplant boy Nathan Howarth is looking forward to the New Year with renewed hope.

Brave Nathan has just enjoyed his first Christmas and New Year at home following the pioneering life-saving surgery.

Now his parents, Denise Kelly and Mick and Howarth, who live in Great Lever, are eagerly awaiting results of tests to see if the cell transplants have been successful.

Doctors are expected to give the family good news within the next few weeks.

Nathan received the miracle transplant from his baby sister, Hannah, last February, and had to be kept in isolation, away from his friends, until September.

The seven-year-old suffers from a rare blood disorder called Falconis Anaemia.

Nathans condition has left him pale and exhausted for the past five years.

Doctors told his parents that their son would have only a year to live without the stem cell transplant.

In February, cells transplanted from Hannahs umbilical cord gave her brother another 10 years to live, in which time it is hoped a cure will be found.

This month will bring yet more good news for the family as Nathans mother is expecting her third child, already named Michael Joseph, on January 11.

She said: "Last Christmas we were waiting for Nathans transplant and it was a difficult time for us as a family.

"This year, its much less stressful for Nathan and hes just been so excited about everything, especially the birth of his new brother.

"The news following the tests was great, because the previous test showed his white blood cell count had fallen, which is a bad sign, but that seems to be reversing.

"I feel that everything is looking up for us in 2006."