A SIX-YEAR-OLD who received a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant from his brother has returned to school.

The Oxford Mail followed the story of Herbie Taylor from North Leigh who suffers from a rare immune system disorder called Nemo and was given a transplant by his seven-year-old brother Rufus in May last year.

Just over a year later, he has returned to school at North Leigh Primary and is well on the road to a full recovery.

Herbie’s mum, Emily Taylor, 46, who has also now returned to work as a teacher at Witney Community Primary School said: “Herbie returned to school within the last few weeks and is going for three days each week and two half days. He’s just so happy. He’s delighted to be back with his friends.”

She added: “We’re not out of the woods yet. He still can’t do things with big groups of people but he’s looking forward every day.”

Mrs Taylor said Herbie’s sister Lily, 12, who was also diagnosed with the same condition in 2013, is also doing really well and a bone marrow transplant for her has been postponed for the time being.

Mr and Mrs Taylor have also now been able to return to work.

Mrs Taylor paid tribute to the “amazing care” the family have received at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, and from Oxfordshire’s community nursing team.

The family are now set to become television stars featuring in the latest series of the BBC’s Bafta-nominated documentary, Great Ormond Street.

They will appear in the first episode, Fix My Genes, which airs on Tuesday, at 9pm. The programme follows Herbie and his family, as he prepares to receive the transplant from his older brother Rufus in May last year.

Mrs Taylor said: “We’ve all been through a lot but we’re pleased to be part of the documentary series. By sharing our story we hope to help raise awareness of rare diseases.

“The crews were with us from January 2014, when we had the first meetings about having the transplant, until after it was done.

“It was quite a small film crew so we got to know them quite quickly.

“But when you are going through emotional things like that, having a camera or a microphone on you is really not the top of your list of priorities.

“Also, we wanted it to be very natural and to be true to our family.”