Choke child's prognosis 'up in the air'

Jack (right) and his brother Michael

A toddler whose heart stopped after he choked on a sandwich at the home of an Auckland childcare worker should be celebrating his second birthday today.

Instead, he remains seriously ill in hospital with suspected brain damage and his prognosis "up in the air".

Jack and his brother Michael, 4, were left on July 16 at the West Auckland home of Leeann Kelly, who works as an "educarer" for Jemma's Home-based Education and Childcare Service.

Jack was eating a sandwich and when he swallowed a bite, it went down the wrong way and became lodged in his airway.

He lost consciousness, his heart stopped and after he was revived he was put in an induced coma at Starship hospital.

Jack's father Cameron, who spoke to the Herald on the condition the family's surname was not published, said he and wife Elena would postpone birthday celebrations.

They would mark Jack's birthday when he was a bit better and able to enjoy it.

"He's not talking at the moment. He is stable, but he's getting a lot of shakes in his legs and arms. His eyes twitch as he tries to focus. There's not a lot of change," Cameron said.

"They're trying to get him to sleep normally, but the twitches wake him up so he only gets 15 minutes at a time."

As a result of being deprived of oxygen as he choked, Jack suffered damage to his brain. Doctors are yet to establish the degree of damage.

A spokesman for the Government's labour service confirmed an investigation was under way.