Liver-swap youngster Kabel Mazhar says he wants to go back to school - just two weeks after his major operation.

And the youngster is making such good progress he could be home for Christmas, doctors have said.

The eight-year-old, from Shipley, is making a rapid recovery after emergency surgery to replace his liver which was ravaged by the rare disease cryptonic cirrhosis. His mother Parveen has been by his bedside every day since the eight-hour operation went ahead a fortnight ago at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Meanwhile his father, Mazhar Hussain, has continued working while keeping in touch with his son by telephone.

Mr Hussain, 34, said: "The doctors have said that, if everything goes well, hopefully Kabeel should be back with us for Christmas. He's making good progress and things are heading in the right direction.

"There was a little concern in the first week when there was what they call a 'mild' rejection of the new liver. But they altered the doses of the anti-rejection drugs and he seems to be much better."

Mr Hussain said his son had started to eat solids in the last week.

He added: "Kabeel actually uses a wheelchair to get around in but he's taken two or three steps on his own without hesitation. He spoke to me the other night on the telephone and said, 'Dad, I'm a little bit bored, I want to go back to school.' We're just taking it day by day. There is always a chance of rejection which is the most frightening thing."

Five years ago Kabeel's older sister Romesa, who suffered from the same disease, also came home from hospital around Christmas time after she was given a new liver.

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