After a failed bone marrow transplant, fighting off infections and Covid-19, Tauranga mum Belinda Cortesi is telling son's battle with HLH.

Tremayne (Trey) Rayner-Douch, aged 16, was first diagnosed with the condition last year, which first manifested as a cancer when he was seven years old.

HLH is a rare condition in which certain white blood cells build up in and damage organs.

In order to make a full recovery, Belinda says he had to undergo a bone marrow transplant, which was a 'long and involved” process.

'We had to isolate for months at a time, because he had no immune system. He had to have chemotherapy, then we stayed at Starship Hosptial for about four months after he had the transplant.”

During this time, Belinda could not go back to work. Her retail job meant she posed a high risk to Trey's weakened immune system, so she instead decided to look after him and stay home.

They began preparing for the transplant in June of 2022, and were able to finally return home in September of the same year.

After being home for two months Belinda says Trey's doctor informed them the transplant had failed and they would have to start again after a Starship Hospital appointment.

Absolutely devastated at the news, Belinda says they began their journey at the hospital preparing for another transplant one week before Christmas.

Photo: Supplied.

'He's fought off about seven different infections since being here, as well as Covid-19. Trey has been pretty crook. The doctors are trying to get him better so they can start the transplant process again, which means we will be up here in Starship for another four to six months.”

Belinda says Trey has been fighting off Covid-19 for 'about five weeks” now, and is 'doing ok, considering the long journey" they will have to go through before he is able to make a full recovery.

'We as a family cope pretty well, we have a really positive mindset most of the time, but this process would be hard one anyone. Sometimes you have good days, and others you just fall apart, because it's been pretty hard.”

Trey spends most of his time resting, according to Belinda, as he is 'not able to do much” with his energy being used to fight off his infections.

As Belinda isn't able to work while looking after her son, she says financially, it has been 'very difficult” to help her son with the recovery process.

'We recently bought a home early last year, right before this whole process began. It was when I was bidding on the house I found out Trey was back in hospital. We were able to have a ‘mortgage holiday,' but the maximum they were able to do was six months.”

It was soon after this Belinda's cousin set up a GiveALittle page to aid the financial burden during the recovery process.

'I personally didn't want to do it. I don't like asking for help, but my cousin insisted that it would all be fine.”

The GiveALittle page says all donations will be 'hugely appreciated” as they navigate 'this next part of Trey's journey back to full health. Every little bit helps”.

'There's a lot going on. As of right now we're in intensive care because he's fighting off a fungal infection. We're certainly looking forward to it getting better.”

To read more about Trey's journey, or to help the family cover the expenses needed for Trey to make a full recovery, visit the GiveALittle page, https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-trey-belinda-and-family-as-they-prepare.