The community has donated more than $5,000 to help save the life of a child with a rare genetic disorder.

Azenje Smith will travel to the Children's Hospital Boston today with his parents for the latest in a series of medical tests.

The 17-month-old boy has Mitochondrial Disease, a rare disorder which attacks the brain cells, nerves, muscles and organs in the body.

Although there are different forms of the disease, it is characterised by cells being unable to burn off food and oxygen, and so generate energy.

He first started showing symptoms of the disease four months ago when he began to lose his balance and fall over. Parents Laurie-ann Stovell and Jamal Smith say his head also kept rolling onto one side and his hands began "locking up".

However, doctors at Children's Hospital Boston have told Miss Stovell and Mr. Smith that they do not know which form of the disease Azenje has.

He faces a painful death unless he can obtain specialist treatment, and even then he may only have a 50 percent chance of survival.

Azenje's parents say his last hope lies with the Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center at the University of California San Diego's School of Medicine, which specialises in research and treatment.

Miss Stovell said yesterday it is looking promising that the UCSD Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center will admit Azenje, and that BF&M Insurance will cover most of his costs.

His parents however, will still have to pay for his medication and their living expenses while they are in San Diego.

They are also currently spending up to $400 a week on medication, as Azenje has to take hundreds of pills each day, mixed up with PediaSure.

Mr. Smith, 32, and Miss Stovell, 25, have already lost one child to Mitochondrial Disease. Na'zyje died on May 13, 2005, after losing control of his limbs and slipping into a coma. He was 21-months-old.

Then, on May 31 this year, Mr. Smith's cousin lost a two-year-old boy to the same disorder.

Miss Stovell and Mr. Smith are now waiting for the results of a muscle biopsy on Na'zyje and then hope to travel to San Diego with Azenje.

"The doctors in San Diego are trying to find out as much as possible before we get there in order to see what they're dealing with," said Miss Stovell. "We are hoping to have an appointment date very soon."

Miss Stovell said she wanted to thank everyone who has contributed towards Azenje's treatment. "We have received a lot of donations and we are very grateful to everybody," she said.

Azenje will tomorrow have tests to make sure Mitochondrial Disease is not taking away his eyesight. Miss Stovell said: "A few months ago, it was causing one of his eyes to turn inwards, but he is better now as the result of medication.

"The doctors just want to do a follow-up to see if he is ok, because it can affect the eyesight altogether."

She added: "We are hopeful because everything seems to be fine at the moment. Azenje is doing good."

If anyone is interested in assisting Azenje, donations can be made into the account of 'Azenje Stovell', no. 60598 at Capital G Bank.

The account is an 'and/or' account — also in the names of Laurie-ann Stovell and Jamal Smith, to manage Azenje's account in his best interests.

Any queries over donations can be made to Kelzine Butterfield, Miss Stovell's aunt and an employee of Capital G, at 331 5010. The family have also set up an email address at: AzenjeSmithMedicalFund@hotmail.com. Please contact them if you can assist in any way.