12:23pm UK, Monday November 22, 2004

The second of four brothers diagnosed with the same rare disease has undergone a transplant operation.

But Daniel Hartley will have to wait a couple of weeks to find out if it has been a success.

180 daniel hartley bone marrow patient

Daniel recovering in hospital

Daniel, eight, Joshua, 12, Nathan, 10, and Luke, four, all have an extremely rare genetic defect known as Duncan's Syndrome.

Their parents David and Allison, from Romsey in Hampshire, appealed nationally after doctors told them last year that the only cure was bone marrow transplants.

Matches were found for all four boys after thousands of potential donors responded to a campaign by The Anthony Nolan Trust.

Mrs Hartley was matched as a donor for Joshua, who had a successful transplant operation in June.

An anonymous donor allowed Daniel to follow Joshua and have his transplant operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Mr Hartley said: "Daniel is doing well. It's still very early days because it will take a couple of weeks to work out if the transplant has been successful."

He added: "Josh is still at home. The plan is to get him back to school just before Christmas. He's cured and he's at home quite desperate to get back into public life."

The Anthony Nolan Trust is still appealing for more donors aged between 18 and 40, particularly young males.