Harrison's joy at being back on top form!

6:15am Saturday 14th June 2008

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Lung transplant teenager Harrison Smith is back at school at last.

The 15-year-old has not been in class since the start of summer holidays last year, but now that doctors have given him the all clear he has returned part-time.

This week he packed his schoolbag and was reunited with classmates at Dixton's City Academy.

"It's good to be back and catch up with my friends. I'm just doing afternoons but I'm hoping to do all day when the new school year starts in September," he said.

Harrison, who has cystic fibrosis, had to wait two years to get his new lung, the transplant happened in November.

Since the operation, Harrison has battled to overcome some health hurdles including fears last month that his body was rejecting its new organ.

But results of a biopsy at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London brought the good news that all is well.

He has to go to Great Ormond Street once a month to see specialists there and once a fortnight to St James's Hospital in Leeds to be monitored.

"I'm feeling a lot better with my new lung, I can run about and get up stairs without getting out of breath, I couldn't do that before," he said.

Despite being on the road to recovery, Harrison's eyesight is deteriorating because of medication, he has to take 21 tablets in the morning and 16 at night.

He said; "I've got used to taking the tablets, other than that everything's pretty normal. It's good to be getting back into a routine."

School nurse Beryl Tate said: "It's great to have Harrison back in school. We're doing everything we can to help him adjust back into school life and we're looking forward to him being full-time again."

Harrison's mother Joann McQuillan, said: "It's a bonus that he's back at school. He's back with his friends which has to be good for him and better than spending all day just with me.

"It's great he's there and he's learning. He's an intelligent boy and his brain needed stimulating again. I'm happy he's happy."

Harrison's father Joe, who had to give up work when the family was waiting for Harrison's transplant and until he recovered to return to school, has now been able to go back to work as an electrician.

The family had featured in the Telegraph & Argus recently speaking out about how pressures of looking after sick children can bring about horrendous financial strains, they feared they would not be able to pay their mortgage and would lose their home.

e-mail: kathie.griffiths @telegraphandargus.co.uk