WHEN Keir Platt celebrates his 11th birthday tomorrow — the 11th day of 2011 — it will mark a milestone his parents never thought they would see.

The youngster has a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system and cannot be cured.

It robbed him of the ability to walk and talk at an early age and he continues to deteriorate, now being fed through a tube.

His parents thought he would not reach double figures but, against all odds, Keir will be 11 on the special date.

Mum Michelle Tonge said: “Kier is doing fine, he has had a few ups and downs but is not doing too badly.

“There has definitely been some deterioration over the last five years but he is still really alert and is a happy and cheeky chap.

“They say children diagnosed don’t usually make their teenage years and a lot pass away sooner so we were thinking he might make it to seven or eight but he has gone a lot further.

“It’s brilliant to get to 11, you kind of don’t think about it and another year has crept past, it is significant for him.”

Keir, a pupil at Holy Infant and St Anthony’s Primary School, Astley Bridge, suffers from metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) and is one of only a handful of children in Greater Manchester to have the rare condition.

Miss Tonge, along with Keir’s dad, Martin Platt, aged 45, and sister, Erin Platt, aged 13, are planning a quiet birthday for him on Tuesday, with a party the following weekend.

Miss Tonge, aged 37, said: “He knows it’s his birthday, he was really excited about Christmas so I expect he’ll be the same.

“It’s weird that the date is all the ones. I just realised the other day.

“Keir likes getting presents and having people round. We’re all looking forward to it.

“He always takes his condition in his stride and we’re really proud of him, he’s amazing.”

The family, of Dryburgh Avenue, Astley Bridge, are now looking forward to 2011.

Miss Tonge said: “We all just get on with it and try to have a normal family life.

“We’re hoping to do normal stuff this year, holidays, sending Keir to secondary school, hopefully next Christmas, we just take it in stages.”