THIS time last year, two brothers were reunited after a life-changing donation.

Yahya Patel has come along way in just 12 months.

The eight-year-old, from Great Lever, was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan Anaemia (DBA), which meant his bone marrow failed to make enough red blood cells, shortly after he was born.

But thanks to his older brother Abdullah donating bone marrow, the youngster is fighting back against the rare condition and his life has changed forever.

From having to go through regular blood transplants and suffering from fatigue, the youngster is beginning to live life to the full.

Dad Zayd said: "He has done really well, the transplant is working and doing its job. He now has a relatively hospital free life.

"After coming home he was back to hospital every week but that has moved on to once a month and he's not been to hospital for about two months now, which is really great!

"His next appointment is in October and he is doing well and back at school full time, and has taken part in football sessions as well.

"We couldn't be anymore happy. It was a challenge afterwards but life in general has a bit more normality to it.

"It was a traumatic time for him and he tries not to talk about it, but he is happy and really healthy."

DBA is when the body doesn’t produce red blood cells and can cause fatigue, poor growth, lack of appetite and a pale complexion .

Only around 125 people in the UK have the condition and, like Yahya, most patients have to have repeated blood transfusions or alternative treatment such as steroids.

Despite the debilitating affects of the condition, Yahya kept on fighting, including continuing school life in between treatments at Royal Manchester children's Hospital.

When the Pikes Lane Primary School pupil was five years old other treatments for the condition started to fail him and his whole family were tested to see if they could be a match for a bone marrow transplant.

Results for Abdullah, who was nine at the time, came back as a 100 per cent match.

Parents Zayd and Summayya were determined that Abdullah would make the choice whether to donate – which he did.

Yahya was in hospital for six months, having chemotherapy and the transplant, staying in an isolation room to lower his risk of infection.

Zayd explains: "Yahya loves Batman and his room was decorated as the Bat Cave. A local guy who dresses up as Batman came to visit him.

"Yahya is very cheeky and that didn’t change – he was smiling even during the transplant.

"Summayya and I drew a lot of strength from him. The doctors and nurses were incredible, too – we knew he was in the best hands and they feel like part of our family now."

Once Yahya was back from hospital, he was fighting fit and well.

Abdullah’s donation means his younger brother no longer needs transfusions and is leading a normal life.

Zayd said: "He’ll be on penicillin for life after the transplant – but that’s nothing, really, as at one point he was on 15 medicines a day.

"We are well aware the bone marrow is not a cure for the condition but it has returned some normality to our lives.

"It can be a transformation and you can see with Yahya that it does work. It is a big step for any family to take."

If the condition does return and Yahya's body rejects the donation, Abdullah could not donate again.

Any help in the future would rely on the kind held of bone marrow donors and ongoing research into DBA.

Throughout their journey, the Patel's were supported by the Diamond Blackfan Anaemia Charity and they are now supporting the launch of the annual Jeans for Genes Day fundraising campaign.

Taking place on September 22 it is held in aid of Genetic Disorders UK.

Money raised will fund the work of the national charity and provide grants to organisations for projects that aim to transform the lives of children with genetic disorders.

Zayd adds: "We are also encouraging people to donate blood and bone marrow – especially in the Asian community.

"The amount of donation received are very, very small and I'm always encouraging people to donate because it really is needed."