Promising to go the very ends of the Earth to help save a loved one is easily done.

But for Bermudian father Marvin Brock, this cliche became a reality after having driven his sick son three times across North America in a desperate bid for treatment.

Now he is planning to take little Mihdi Brock to China to continue the treatment aimed at arresting the child's curvature of the spine which has tortured him for every day of his four and a half years of life.

Mihdi's hold on life was always tenuous after he was born with a blocked aorta. Major heart surgery at five months left him with a permanently enlarged heart forcing his skeleton to curve to accommodate it.

Without treatment the twist would become so severe it would asphyxiate him.

A Boston Children's hospital surgeon John Emans said Mihdi would need operations every six months of his young life. Dr. Emans cautioned the operation, which involved hooking telescoping rods to vertebrae, was prone to complications, with rods liable to break or cause infection.

Given the stark choice by the Boston doctor of watching Mihdi die or continually suffer Mr. Brock, who had studied Chinese medicine, contacted acquaintances in the field, and hit the road to get help, leaving the rest of his family at their New England home.

He recalls: "I picked Midhi up and put him in the car. I bolstered his head or it would slip to the side. Midhi was so weak his life force was ebbing away."

First stop was was Montreal, where Mr. Brock knew a Chinese Doctor. Mr. Brock said "Chinese medicine has been around for 5,000 years, it's not something new."

But, he said the child's life force was getting weak. I didn't get a sense he knew what to do, he gave me some herbs and we got on the road again and I drove for as long as I could."

Next came Vancouver, where there was a conference for Chinese medicine specialists from around the world.

"I was frightened the whole trip. From the time I left Boston I was running on adrenaline. It was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life.

"We drove from New Hampshire to Vancouver in six days. We were looking to keep him alive."

Mr. Brock tried to keep speed up because time was precious, but this nearly backfired when he found himself sliding sideways down a highway on black ice near Kenora, Ontario.

He said: "I realised I was looking at trees and not the road ahead. I managed to pull out of it."

Despite the constant anxiety, the time spent together on the road helped bond father and son, with Marvin being willed on by the strength of character resonating from his Mihdi.

"He has undergone major heart surgery and lived through tremendous pain and suffering for doctors to discover what was wrong with him. Through it all his eyes spoke volumes about the strong spirit within, willing itself to be free.

"He and I became very close. Mihdi never cried once. He was worse when we got to Vancouver but some different Chinese herbs picked him up."

Mr. Brock was then put in touch with the Dalai Lama's former physician Dr. Yeshi Dhonden in Berkeley, California.

Nearly 1,000 miles later they met up, but it was worth the journey.

"The pills revived him, within two days Mihdi was sitting up in his seat. I could not believe it. I was thanking God right, left and centre."

He was urged on to San Diego, to see Taoist priest Sifu Share K Lew. Mr. Brock said this 500-mile stint was the most difficult as he now had a lively toddler on his hands and driving time had to be cut down to six hours.

In San Diego, Mihdi made a big breakthrough when Mr. Lew treated him with the ancient breathing art of Qigong.

The initial treatment was startling said Mr. Brock, as Mr. Lew stood with his fingers inches from his son and concentrated his energy on the ailing child.

He said: "My son pulled his hand back like there was something tingling. It wasn't unpleasant. My son's eye's suddenly seemed to say `I am ready to go on, I am alive now."

The mix of breathing exercises, acupuncture and herbs arrested the rapid curvature of Mihdi's spine, under the guidance of Dr. Baolin Wu in Santa Monica. During those months with Dr. Wu, Mihdi has gained nearly four pounds and grown four inches. Dr. Emans has confirmed there has been no worsening of Mihdi's spinal deformity.

It's been a long journey, both literally and figuratively and Mr. Brock has been there every step of the way - sleeping on a hard board by his son when it was found soft beds would worsen Mihdi's spine curvature, and holding his son's hand during 40 sessions in a oxygen chamber.

In one session, the pressure sucked out a lose filling. Mr. Brock recalls: "The pain was excruciating.

"My glasses fell off my face and shattered and I didn't even move to get them."

But the pain was nothing compared to the agony Mr. Brock has suffered watching Mihdi's plight.

"Giving him away to the nurse for heart surgery was the worst thing. The nurse didn't hesitate, he was off through those swinging doors and we didn't know if he would survive or not. That was my lowest point."

But now there is hope. From being unable to lift his head, let alone run or walk, Mihdi is now able to scamper about on the beach and kick a football about.

"Now his body is growing and strengthening.

"He determined, happy, he's spirited like I have never seen. I have watched him go through all he's gone through and not cry, even after heart surgery, even when he's had acupuncture."

Now Mihdi finds joy in typical boyhood pleasures. Being with his family and driving his electric car.

"He's a very good driver, although he did go to sleep at the wheel once."

Although Mihdi's body is strengthening, speech is still a problem as fluid on his brain has damaged his ability to talk.

"He doesn't have the motor skills to put the words together. He wants to talk but he can't make it come out."

However last week Mihdi put his first faltering sentence together. "He said: `Mama's making cup cakes'. That was so good to hear.

"When I am with him I understand him when other people don't."

Mihdi still needs constant care, which has prevented Mr. Brock from working during the last two and half years.

Now he is back in Bermuda hoping to raise funds for an operation in China.

"In two years time he's going to need a major manipulation to straighten his spine."It could cost up to $50,000.

"These last few days have been very difficult for me. This has been the longest time I have been away from him for two and a half years."

Mr. Brock is blitzing Island corporations hoping to get the kind of cash to set up an endowment fund which will enable the family to get back to some kind of normalcy rather than having to continually hawk the begging bowl to help pay for Mihdi's $150 a day medical costs.

"Bermuda has saved his life until this date. And I have been overwhelmed with their genorosity this time."

Asked how desperate the situation is Mr. Brock says: "Let's put it this way. Last Thursday we were completely without funds for treatment.

"I just hope the generosity of Bermudians will come through again."

Donations can be sent to the Mihdi Brock fund at the Bank of Bermuda, 6 Front Street, Hamilton, HM11. The account number is 70123372.