High School Athlete Dies of Rare Disease After ‘Weeks In and Out of the Hospital’

Waseh Sultani Credit: GoFundMe NEED TO KNOW Waseh Sultani, 17, was recently diagnosed with a rare immune disorder called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis The New Jersey teen's family said he “courageously battled” the disease for weeks before his death The Paramus High School junior was a beloved football player remembered for his energy and dedication to his team A New Jersey teen died after fighting a rare syndrome, leaving his family heartbroken Waseh Sultani, a 17-year-old from Paramus, New Jersey, was recently diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis , his family shared in a GoFundMe post. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and potentially fatal disorder where the immune system abnormally overreacts and no longer works properly, according to the Cleveland Clinic . White blood cells that fight infections end up damaging parts of the body, such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.

This can lead to organ damage and even death if left untreated. There are two types of the HLH, one that is triggered by genetics and one that is triggered by an infection. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Sultani’s family said he “courageously battled this devastating illness, spending weeks in and out of the hospital. ” “Despite every effort, Waseh sadly passed away, leaving behind a heartbroken family who loved him deeply,” they revealed. View this post on Instagram Sultani was a junior at Paramus High School and played corner back and running back for the school’s football team.

On March 20, the team posted a photo of the student-athlete on Instagram and celebrated his life. “Paramus Football mourns the loss of our brother, Waseh Sultani,” the tribute read. “He was a great teammate, a hard worker, and someone who brought energy to our program every day.