Transplant means new life for Ben

Brave 10-year-old Ben Whittall was back at school today, two months after a life-saving kidney transplant.

Ben was given one of his dad Stuart's kidneys in a four-hour operation on December 16.

He started back at Abbey Junior school in Barclays Road, Smethwick, today, where he will be spending half days until he is fully recovered.

Mum Sarah, aged 38, said Ben, of Thimblemill Road, cannot wait to get back to school.

She said: "Ben has been getting really excited and couldn't wait to get out of the door this morning.

"He is really looking forward to seeing all his friends and although he will only be doing mornings at the moment it is a big step on his road to recovery."

Before his transplant Ben was undergoing 10 hours of kidney dialysis six nights a week.

He was discharged from Birmingham Children's Hospital on New Years Eve following the transplant and has been recovering at home.