LITTLE Freddie Branthwaite gave his family the best Christmas ever — coming home from hospital after undergoing a life saving bone marrow transplant.

Freddie's parents, Laura and Jason Branthwaite were expecting their 18-month-old son to be well enough to return to their Breightmet home in January.

But doctors were so delighted with his amazing progress that they gave the family the green light to leave hospital and Freddie was back in his own bed on Christmas Eve, all ready for Santa to arrive and share the fun with his devoted big brother, 11-year-old Harry.

Dad Jason said: "It is just brilliant. It is the best present we could ever have.

"Harry is absolutely elated at having his little brother back."

It has been a roller-coaster three months for the Branthwaites after taking Freddie to the doctors because he was pale and lethargic following a family holiday.

Doctors at the Manchester Children's Hospital initially thought Freddie had leukaemia, but then three days later told his stunned parents that their son was suffering from severe aplastic anaemia, a rare condition in which the body stops producing new blood cells.

"Basically we were told he has to have a bone marrow transplant or he will die," said Jason.

"It was absolutely awful. Everybody knows about leukaemia but this is just as serious, if not more so.

"The consultant had never seen it in someone as young as him — it is so rare."

The race was then on to find a suitable donor before time ran out for Freddie and medics turned to the Anthony Nolan register for help.

Laura and Jason were devastated when the first match for a transplant in October fell through.

The severity of the illness hit home then when a consultant told them he did not think Freddie would survive long enough to have the transplant.

Jason added: "It was terrible. Your child's life is in someone else's hands.

"But Anthony Nolan managed to find another 10 out of 10 donor — a perfect match."

Brother Harry was so delighted by the development that he posed for pictures with Freddie, sending a public message thanking the anonymous donor.

On November 16 Freddie was admitted to hospital and underwent chemotherapy and other drug treatment in preparation for the bone marrow transplant, which went ahead 10 days later.

Brave little Freddie, who had already faced a battle for survival when he was born two months prematurely, amazed everyone again with his fighting spirit, undergoing all the treatment without the use of painkillers.

"He has lost all his hair, but the main thing is he will survive," said Jason, who added that his son has gone from strength to strength.

There are now no signs that his body is rejecting the transplant and the little boy even took his first steps while he was in hospital.

Jason said: "We can see a marked difference in him. Since he had the transplant he is back to how he was originally.

"He has absolutely astounded us with the way he has dealt with everything."

In hospital Freddie was visited by a host of celebrities, including football players, soap opera stars and Wanderers' manager Neil Lennon.

But at home, as Freddie is still recovering, the usual big family Christmas was put on hold for the Branthwaites this year and the four of them enjoyed a quiet celebration at together.

Laura, an office manager for NSL and insurance salesman Jason are hoping that Freddie will be able to return to nursery within six months.

"Then we will be able to carry on with our lives," said Jason.

In the meantime Jason is so grateful for the work of Anthony Nolan that he has vowed to undertake the 100 mile Ride London cycle challenge in July this year and had already raised £1,200 in sponsorship.

Now Freddie is home he plans to get down to some serious training and has been thrilled with the donation of some gear from Polaris Bikewear to help him along,

Anyone who wants to sponsor Jason can do so at justgiving.com/Jason-Branthwaite