Miracle tot Dakota Clarke may have her fledgling sight boosted when she is able to wear glasses later this year.

That’s the optimistic forecast for the remarkable little girl who defied the odds to emerge from a lifetime of blindness with the help controversial stem cell injections.

Sunday Life can reveal tests have shown she may soon be able to wear specs that may improve her sight further.

Loveable little Dakota was born with an ultra-rare brain condition, called Septo-optic Dysplasia in April 2006.

The battling tot nearly died three or four times within weeks of her birth and has since lived with a multitude of health problems, including growth deficiencies, weak muscles, seizures and severe bouts of dehydration.

But her devoted parents, Wilma and Darren, were determined to give Dakota a better quality of life.

It was Sunday Life which helped to launch the family’s £30,000 fundraising campaign to send her to China for stem cell treatment to help her to see.

Big-hearted Sunday Life readers reached deep into their purses and pockets — and last February the Clarkes flew off on the journey of a lifetime.

Two-year-old Dakota underwent a course of stem cell injections at the Qingdao People’s Hospital, under the treatment of the Beike Biotechnology Company.

And last month Darren and Wilma witnessed the miracle progress they had only dreamed about before — that Dakota can now SEE objects, held a few feet away from her, for the first time in her life.

The ecstatic Clarke family arrived home in Newtownabbey just last week to be met by a media frenzy from dozens of TV stations and newspapers, from as far away as Brazil.

But it was this newspaper and our big-hearted readers which was foremost in Darren Clarke’s thoughts.

Dad-of-two Darren (34) says: “There was a big squad of family and friends at the airport when we arrived home and there were a lot of tears, tears of happiness.

“There was a big welcome party for us when we got home as well, with a big banner draped across the windows.

“It seems as if the world wants to talk to us, with about 20 or 25 newspapers and TV companies getting in

“We have the people of Northern Ireland to thank, for making this come true.

“In terms of the media, it is Sunday Life who we have to thank most of all, because it is you that brought us to where we are, today. So, thanks for everything Sunday Life!”

Back home, Dakota was contentedly enjoying the flavours of her trip to the Far East, wolfing down a pot of authentic Chinese noodles and talking a little Mandarin.

Added health bonuses from the trip include a cure for her bowel blockage problems and better sleep-rest patterns.

Mum Wilma says: “Everything is far better than we ever hoped for. The people in China said that her sight may even improve more in the next six to 10 months.

“But even if it stays the way that it is now, we will still be delighted. Everything from now on, will be a bonus.”

Darren adds: “I think that we are all still trying to come to terms with it all. I would say that she can now identify something up to three to four feet away.

“Now she sits there and says, ‘I can see mommy doing something’ or, ‘I can see daddy waving at me’.

“To hear that from a child who was blind last month...well, we are just over the moon.”

The family is considering bringing Dakota back for further stem cell treatment in 2010, if funds can be raised through media interest.

And Darren revealed the family’s latest amazing possible breakthrough — after initial opthamology tests back home indicated that Dakota may be able to wear spectacles at some stage in the near future.

“We are just hoping that glasses will improve her limited vision,” he added

Beike Biotechnology Company chairman, Dr Sean Hu said that they were “extremely pleased” with Dakota’s response to treatment and predicted that things could get even better for her.