Ellis SlateR is especially looking forward to his Christmas dinner tomorrow because, after ten years of being fed by tube, it will be his first one.

Ellis was born with a kidney defect and was unable to eat solids, but all that changed earlier this year when his mother, Deborah, donated one of her kidneys.

A diet of purees, soups, yoghurts and ice creams followed the life-changing operation at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).

However, recently Ellis, of Witton Road, Ferryhill, County Durham, reached another milestone on the road to recovery when he ate a custard cream and there has been no stopping him since.

"Christmas Day was the goal, but he's come on really well, he still likes custard creams, but now he eats like any normal ten-year-old," said Mrs Slater.

When he was just a few weeks old Ellis had a feeding "button" put on his tummy and a kidney was removed during the first of 20 operations to date.

Doctors, who initially thought Ellis might die, said his remaining kidney was sending a message to his brain which meant he would vomit even when he put food in his mouth.

At first home life was extremely difficult with the family spending most of their time at the RVI.

But the family's endeavour for normality has paid off and Ellis, who goes to Cleves Cross Primary School, in Ferryhill, enjoys almost the same lifestyle as his brother, Connor, 12.

"He has never really let it get to him and we've always tried to make things normal at home," said Ellis' father, Paul.

"When we go out for family meals he won't just sit there with nothing, he'll order something, even if he doesn't eat it.

"At Christmas, Ellis and Connor have always got the same presents, which meant that Connor got to eat two lots of selection boxes.

"But it never stopped him playing out with his mates, or playing football, it just meant that sometimes he would have to come in to go on his drip when his mates were still out, or he would just get tired quickly."

Prior to the transplant, Ellis would be drip-fed overnight and have two tube feeds during the day consisting of a milky protein of nutrients and vitamins.

Mrs Slater was found to be a suitable donor in 2005, but doctors delayed the transplant until Ellis' one remaining kidney failed.

Transplanted kidneys have a limited life span, so Ellis is likely to need another transplant in 15 years.

"I was over the moon when I found out he could have my kidney, there was no question, I just wanted it out and done as soon as we could," said Mrs Slater.

"I was a little bit scared when I first went in, but that was mainly because I was in a different hospital to Ellis and I didn't know what was going on."

Jean Crosier, senior paediatric renal nurse specialist at the RVI, said: "Ellis has done extremely well since his transplant.

"His positive attitude towards getting a normal life has enabled him to start eating after years of tube feeding.

"Ellis is an active, happy boy who now has an excellent outcome from transplant.

"His school and family life have returned to normal."

Following the operation, Ellis had the energy to play a full game for Ferryhill Town Youth Football Club and, when The Northern Echo visited him at home, he was engaged in the traditional Christmas pastime of squabbling with his sibling.

"You're not getting my selection box this year, you're not getting anything because I'm gonna eat all the turkey, and all the Yorkshire puddings, and all the pigs in blankets," said Ellis, teasing his brother, Connor.