Happy news for Teimana

Teimana Emery-Maaka and dad Rico Emery swimming with the dolphins in Australia. Photo / Supplied

Teimana Emery-Maaka is proving the doctors wrong every day.

His parents were initially told he might not live to see his second birthday - but that's only a few days away and despite his prognosis, the plucky toddler's condition has improved over the past 12 months.

When the Rotorua Daily Post first met him and mum Levi Emery in January, Teimana had only recently been diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, a rare condition.The onset causes damage to the tissue, particularly in the mid-brain and brain stem, and symptoms include the loss of basic skills like sucking and head control, seizures and eventually organ complications.

This year, he's found his voice, started "talking", gone through stages of eating, and has regained some movement. While he still has seizures, made worse by things like teething, Miss Emery said it was great to see him re-learning skills like lifting his arms and reaching for things, and getting more movement in his legs.

"He's beaten the odds and is only improving."

Miss Emery said Teimana definitely knew what he wanted.

"He has his own little way of communicating with us."

One of the highlights of the year for the family was a trip to Australia to fulfil a dream Miss Emery had to see Teimana swim with dolphins.

The first attempt for the trip failed after Teimana got sick and ended up in Starship Hospital just as they were about to leave. But they were able to reschedule and swim with the dolphins, as well as spend time at Movie World.

"We went twice because he really enjoyed that."

Since sharing the story, Miss Emery had been in touch with other families whose children have mitrochondrial disease.

While she knows the prognosis isn't good - a few have died over the past year - she said she felt Teimana was around to stay for a while yet.

"I knew he was going to [make it through the year]. It was mother's instinct. I think every else is surprised but not us. I just don't feel like he is going to go anytime soon."

And Teimana has something else to look forward to in the new year - becoming a big brother.

The family are expecting their second son in mid-January.

Miss Emery said they'd been through testing to see if their baby was likely to have mitochondrial disease too and he had a much lower risk than Teimana, but they wouldn't know until after he was born.

If he doesn't also have mitochondrial disease, Miss Emery said the family would have to get used to having a child running around and playing. And if he does, well then they'll just prepare for round two.