A "bright and happy" toddler has spent the majority of her life in a hospital bed with a mystery condition doctors are struggling to diagnose.
Isabella (Bella) Hesketh, who is 20 months old, has only stayed at home for two weeks over the last year.
The toddler, from Southport, first went into hospital at six weeks of age and still doesn't have a diagnosis, Liverpool Echo reports.
She has spent the majority of her life undergoing medical investigations and procedures, and is due to undergo a bone marrow transplant in the next few weeks.
Bella's mum, Lucy Porter, said: "The doctors think it is some kind of immune dysregulatory disorder, but they can't formally diagnose her, and they've not been able to treat it successfully yet.
"Before her transplant, she has to be put in a special isolation room at the hospital, to keep her safe away from germs. She will also undergo a week of chemotherapy to destroy her bone marrow.
"Then she will have blood transfusions until the donors cells are successful transplanted and developed within her body."
According to Lucy, doctors believe the transplant will give Bella "the best chance at a good quality of life and allow her to do all the things kids do, rather than be sat in a hospital bed".
Bella is still currently in hospital and the transplant process, which will take many months, will start next month.
"We are extremely grateful to all the doctors, nurses and others hospital staff that have looked after Bella," Lucy added.
"It has not been an easy year but everyone has worked as hard as the can to help her.
"Despite what Bella is going through, she is a happy little girl."
A gofundme page has been set up by Lucy to help with anything Bella may need over the coming months and to support the vital work undertaken by charities currently supporting the family.
Part of the page's description reads: "Isabella is a bright happy little girl who is only 20 months old, she is currently in and out of hospitals due to flare ups of her autoimmune disease, doctors think that a transplant will give her the best chance at a good quality of life and allow her to do all the things kids do, rather than be sat in a hospital bed."
In an update posted on the page on June 17, Lucy said her daughter would remain in hospital until the transplant begins.
The post reads: "Thank you everyone for donating, it means the world to us. Bella is doing well within the next month she will be starting the transplant, we will remain in hospital until then."
So far, more than £1,000 has been raised. To visit the gofundme page click here.
