The youngest of seven children to David and Tiffany, Ivy has immune deficiency disorder.

Ivy spent almost half of last year in hospital and faces a childhood largely confined to her home to avoid exposure to illness.

Her condition means a simple cold could quickly turn into pneumonia.

But Ivy’s life has changed since she began monthly transfusions of blood plasma, called intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), after three failed attempts for approval to receive the in-demand but rare treatment.

Since then, Mrs Tregenza said the lives of the whole family had changed.

“Ivy’s been able to start preschool and we’re doing things we couldn’t do before,” she said.

“We couldn’t go to the shopping centre because of the risk of infection, and we had to pull our other kids out of after-school activities because of the time we were at the hospital.

“But we’re starting to live a normal life.”

Because of their daughter’s dependence on blood donors, the Tregenzas, of Ellalong, have themselves become regular donors at the Maitland clinic of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

In addition, Mrs Tregenza and Ivy have been named the May ambassadors for the service as part of the Year of the Blood Donor.

“I’m really excited about it – I think it’s important to raise awareness about IVIG,” Mrs Tregenza said.

“You hear lots of stories about the need for blood donations for trauma and cancer treatment, but not for kids like Ivy even though there are quite a lot of them.”

To donate blood, call 131 495 to make an appointment or visit www.donateblood.com.au