TWO years ago John Erb's world fell apart when he was diagnosed with leukaemia.

His only hope of surviving the disease came when his 15-year-old sister Karla was identified as the perfect match for a bone marrow transplant and agreed to undergo the operation.

Now, after months of tests and treatment, John, 27, is looking forward to a bright future after being told this week his bone marrow is healthy and he is likely to beat the disease.

When John was diagnosed in 1997, he spent months in and out of hospital, not knowing whether he would live.

But now he is finally able to live his life free from the tubes and blood tests which were once part of his daily routine.

Although he still has to go for check-ups and blood tests every month at London's University College Hospital, he is confident he will fully recover.

Karla immediately stepped forward as a donor when John was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Surgeons took one litre of bone marrow from her spine and she spent three days in University College Hospital.

Karla, 17, who now works as an apprentice hairdresser at Teresa's Salon in Goring, said: "I would encourage other people to do exactly the same as I did. I was not nervous at all about it until the day before."

John, of Alston Way, Durrington, said the experience has changed his outlook on life. He added: "You do tend to realise the value of life when something like this happens to you and I feel very lucky that I am still about.

"I am trying to be as positive as I can and have been applying for jobs, but not getting anywhere as yet."

John's mother Joan, who has been amazed at the speed of his progress, said he was much happier and had thrown himself into his friends and hobbies.

She said: "We are over the moon.

"We always hoped for the best but we never really knew what would happen."

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