Transplant boy ready for school

The 10-year-old Smethwick boy who was given his father's kidney in a transplant operation at Christmas is preparing to start back at school next week.

Ben Whittall who received his new kidney on December 16 will return to Abbey Junior School after half term.

Mum and dad Sarah, 38 and Stuart, 40, said that Ben, of Thimblemill Road, is recovering well following the gruelling four-hour operation. Before his transplant Ben was undergoing 10 hours of kidney dialysis six nights a week after being struck down with kidney disease in 2008.

He was discharged from Birmingham Children's Hospital on New Year's Eve.

Sarah said: "Ben is doing really well. He is still going backwards and forwards to hospital for tests but he is much better than he was."

Ben, who has two older brothers, Tom 17 and Jack 14 fell ill at the age of eight.

This is Stuart's first full week back at work and he admitted it was a shock to the system. He said: "This has definitely changed our outlook on life."