Tiny Taonga is Northland face of the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal

Taonga (12 weeks) with big brother Dallas Peita (3

He's only 12-weeks-old but the special needs and fighting spirit of Taonga Peita are why he is the Northland face of the 2017 Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal.

Taonga was born prematurely and has survived a range of medical complications.

His mother Miranda Shackell and her partner were warned during the pregnancy there was high risk Taonga could have Down Syndrome.

"While we were curious as to whether or not he had Down Syndrome, we didn't want to risk the diagnostic testing because we were in love with him already, regardless of how many copies of chromosome 21 he had," Ms Shackell said.

When he was born by caesarean section on May 17, Taonga went into respiratory distress and was rushed to Whangarei Hospital's Specialist Care Baby Unit (SCBU).

Ms Shackell said she had excellent care from the SCBU doctors and nurses, who at one stage were looking after 14 new-borns in the unit designed to accommodate 10 babies.

Taonga was diagnosed with transient myeloproliferative disorder (TMD), which can sometimes lead to acute myeloid leukaemia in babies with Down Syndrome. He also had a small hole in his heart.

"When they said TMD has the potential to become leukaemia, I felt like I was hit by a bus. The doctor came back a few hours later to reassure me it wasn't as bad as it sounded. But for me, you hear leukaemia and you see a coffin," Ms Shackell said.

When mother and baby were ready to leave hospital, Ms Shackell and her carers worked on a discharge plan for Taonga.

"I learned about CPR and how much oxygen flow he would need. The plan was to listen to what they said and just do it. It was a lot to absorb."

Taonga's 24/7 oxygen supply could not be near a naked flame, which was difficult in a family home warmed by an open fire.

"I rang the council, Work & Income and Healthy Homes Northland to see if they would help us [pay to insulate the cold home]. I didn't want Taonga banished to the bedroom.

''Finally, I rang Hubands Energy here in Whangarei, I told them our story. Hubands prioritised us and when there was a cancellation on their waiting list they squeezed us in."

Ms Shackell said it was important the community supported Taonga and other Countdown Kids, "because potentially we wouldn't be having this conversation otherwise".

She said the Okara and Regent branches of Countdown have made her daily workload of teaching, parenting and carefully monitoring medication easier by arranging delivery and pickup of her grocery shopping.

Over 7500 children and babies are admitted to one of the four Northland hospitals each year.

Funds raised by the Countdown Kids Hospital Appeal help Northland DHB Maternal and Child Health Services afford "wish list" items.

Last year $96,054 was raised in Northland, helping provide families with travel incubators, apnoea monitors, scanners, breast pumps, an electronic hoist with scales, humidifiers, La-Z-Boy chairs and a range of hospital equipment.