HE may not be running yet but little Atherton meningococcal survivor Mackie Cooper is certainly on the move as he adjusts to having had five toes and parts of eight fingers amputated.

On the Esplanade yesterday, the toddler was walking with the aid of his parents and hopping on his good foot, although after more than a month in bed he is still weak and unsteady.

But despite such physical challenges, his parents Jeremy and Diana Cooper said Mackie - short for Mackenzie - who is nearly four, was back to his normal "cheeky" self.

"He's definitely got his spirit and his mischievous personality back," Mr Cooper said.

"But he's had enough of things happening to him - he's just over it.

"We want to get him home."

Mackie, who spent nine days in an induced coma after being struck down with the life-threatening meningococcal disease in late March, was transferred back to Cairns Base Hospital from Brisbane's Mater Hospital just over a week ago.

His parents hope he will be stable enough to go home by late next week although he will still need to be fed and take his medicines through a tube in his nose for some time.

Mackie is also responding well to exercises to regain the use of his hands after having eight fingers amputated to the second knuckle as well as all the toes on his right foot.

"His hands are all bandaged up but he will still grab stuff like his ball and drive his toys around," Mr Cooper said.

"He just does things and doesn't think too much about it which is why rehabilitation is so good at his age."

The only real concern is Mackie's kidneys which are still not functioning properly after his illness, and he may need a transplant down the track, Mr Cooper said.

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