BATTLING brothers John and Robert Daly are celebrating double lung transplant joy after marathon operations just two years apart.

Heart and lung transplant patient John Daly, 15, is already sitting up in bed after undergoing a gruelling six hour operation -- just like brother Robert did after a lung-swap operation two years ago.

And John donated his own heart to another 15-year-old boy after receiving a new heart and lungs in a domino operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London.

Robert, 17, and John both suffer from cystic fibrosis.

Robert is now studying at Blackburn College but his brother's condition had deteriorated during a seven-month wait for a lung transplant and could only walk short distances before getting out of breath.

"Cystic fibrosis attacks the lungs, it's like being a heavy smoker," said stepfather Kevin Graves. "He has had tuition because he couldn't go to a normal school and walk from class to class."

The family moved from their Accrington home to Arran Avenue, Shadsworth, Blackburn, to be closer to Queen's Park Hospital for the brothers' frequent visits. John has carried a bleeper for seven months in case new lungs were available and on Saturday night his mother Julie finally got a phone call to say an ambulance was on its way for him.

He and Julie were taken to Liverpool airport and flown to Heathrow where another ambulance took them to the children's hospital.

Surgeons told John it was easier to swap the lungs and heart together and asked if his healthy heart could be given to another boy.

They operated at 6am on Sunday and John began to come round from the heavy sedation 24 hours later. Julie, who is staying at the hospital, said the waiting had been nerve-racking.

"I have been through it with Robert but it doesn't get any easier the second time around. It's still just as frightening," she said.

Julie met the mother of the Worcestershire boy who was given John's heart and is recovering in another unit.

She said: "It does feel strange, you don't expect to meet someone else who has got your son's heart, but John wanted to donate it."

Stepfather Kevin and sisters Gemma, 13, and four-month-old Chelsey travelled to London to see him yesterday. Robert hopes to visit at the weekend.

Robert stunned doctors by recovering fast enough to go home only six weeks after his eight-hour operation and the family now hope John will do the same.

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