A 9-year-old Tauranga boy who spent five weeks in Starship hospital for two brain surgeries is home and back to his “normal, cheeky little happy self again”, his mother says.

Maverick Marshall was airlifted to Starship children’s hospital on March 5 after several seizures.

He had emergency surgery for a brain bleed, and more surgery on March 20 for a brain aneurysm.

He was discharged on April 9.

Mother Claire Marshall told the Bay of Plenty Times Maverick recovered “really quickly” from the second operation.

He was monitored for one night in the High Dependency Unit before being transferred back to the neurology ward.

Marshall said the type of aneurysm was “not common in children” and Maverick needed to be tested and monitored for a couple of weeks before being discharged.

She said doctors had not confirmed the cause.

Marshall said Maverick was “pretty much back to his normal, cheeky little happy self again”.

He was enjoying having his own room again at home and having a “normal life” after spending five weeks in hospital.

Maverick had seen a couple of friends during the school holidays, but he could not go swimming or do any physical activity yet.

Tauranga boy Maverick Marshall, 9, is recovering at home after having two brain operations at Starship Hospital in Auckland.

She said Maverick had some eyesight loss in his left eye and a bit of memory loss, “so he kind of repeats himself a bit with questions”.

Marshall said the memory and eyesight loss would hopefully be temporary.

“He’s still young and he’s developing still.

“Apart from that, he’s doing really well and he’s walking around and, you know, just being a normal 9-year-old again.”

Marshall said they would return to Auckland for an eye specialist appointment and a check-up at Starship in two weeks.

He would need an MRI scan in September.

She said Maverick would need additional educational support before returning to school and would see a physiotherapist.

Marshall said he needed to be monitored closely in the coming months.

“We’re just taking it one day at a time at the moment.

“We’re just amazed how well he’s doing and how far he’s come along since he’s been in hospital.”

The family set up a Givealittle page, with the money going towards travel expenses between Auckland and Tauranga, and special support for Maverick.

Marshall thanked everyone for their support and prayers during this “really difficult challenging time”.

The family had been “amazed” by the support from their church, Maverick’s school, and the community.

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.