A TEENAGER whose immune system is attacking his body is due to have a bone marrow transplant today which will give him hope for an ordinary life.

Ethan Greenwood's condition is so rare it has no name but the only way doctors believe they can make him well is to destroy his immune system and replace it with a new one.

The 14-year-old will undergo the procedure at the Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle before recovering in a sterile bubble environment to give his new immune system a chance to grow safe from any risk of infection.

Ethan could face weeks or possibly up to two years in the bubble depending on how his body copes.

His mother Sharon, 45, and dad Wayne, 46, will be stopping and swapping shifts to keep him company until he is well enough to come home to Fieldhead Drive, Guiseley.

His life-threatening condition has been attacking his stomach, pancreas, liver, spleen and both his lungs which are only working at 30 per cent capacity. He was referred to the specialist hospital after his problems started three years ago, struggling to eat.

He was checked for leukaemia, a terminal cancer, Crohn's disease, tuberculosis and HIV but all tests drew a blank, leaving a bone marrow transplant to be his only option of a hopeful cure.

Even though Ethan's brothers Connor, 17, and Alex, 11, were a match, doctors did not want to use them in case the condition was genetic. An anonymous donor was found instead with help of the Anthony Nolan Trust.

Ethan's dad Wayne said: "Everything is going as planned so far.

"The chemotherapy he's had in the lead up to the transplant has taken it out of him, he's slept for the last three days but other than that he's doing fine. We're just taking it day by day. We've all got to carry on as normal as we can."

Ethan's special hospital room will have its own nurse's station, a private bathroom and TV.

The work of the unit is supported by a fundraising campaign called The Bubble Foundation UK at bubblefoundation.org.uk.

Ethan, who plans to write a blog when he is well enough to keep well-wishers, friends and family up-to-date with his recovery, has been busy fundraising for the unit.

So far, with the help of friends, who took on a sponsored walk round Shipley and are organising a fun event at Bradford Ice Rink on Saturday, June 27, he has raised made more than £2,000.

To find out more and give support, go to justgiving.com/Ethan-Greenwood2