A MONIFIETH toddler with a rare medical condition has survived against the odds and is now preparing to take his next step in life.

James Christison was born four years ago with a rare windpipe malformation that caused severe breathing difficulties and his family lived in fear that even a small cold could kill him.

In January 2005 he underwent an operation to insert medical “scaffolding” to open up his narrow airway and prevent it collapsing.

By September 2006, aged 30 months, he took his first big step when he started at Panmure Playgroup and later this month he will complete his last day before moving on to Seaview nursery school in August.

Over the years James has gone from strength to strength to keep up with his friends. Yesterday, his mum Karen was at the playgroup to watch him take part in his sports day activities.

She said, “I’m just delighted James is taking the next step. He could have gone to school this year but we decided to wait until next year to give him a bit longer to prepare for it.

“When he was unwell I could never have imagined him getting to this stage— people would ask how we coped but we just had to get on with it. At the time we were told any wee cold could have killed him, which was very worrying.

“But he’s fine now and it’s great to see him keeping up with his peers and running around like the other kids.”

Although James has kept good health since March 2007, he still attends check-ups the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in Glasgow.

The appointments used to be every three months but it is now thought they will be six-monthly. At his latest appointment this month specialists put a camera down his throat to make sure everything was still fine since the operation.

“No more emergency appointments like before—the merry-go-round of hospital appointments at Great Ormond Street in London and Yorkhill are now over,” Karen continued.

At Seaview there will be a structured routine to his day and he will be more independent, which will prepare him for the biggest move —on to school next year.

Hazel Grieve, play leader, reflected on how well he had improved over the years at Panmure Playgroup.

She said, “It is sad to see him go but he’s a fantastic little boy and it’s great to see him taking the next step. It’s just lovely to see him ready to go on to nursery with all the skills he has learned.”