Copyright dailypost
Riley Jay Sheen, a young boy from Merthyr Tydfil, had been unwell with what seemed to be common cold or flu symptoms. His mother, Leanne Ralls, said: "He'd had flu-like symptoms and a chest infection. He was on antibiotics and steroids, but nothing was helping him to get better." Tragically, Riley passed away suddenly on 13 September 2024, his funeral taking place on what should have been his seventh birthday. It wasn't until months later that the family discovered his cause of death was myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart caused by a simple infection. The British Heart Foundation (BHF) explains that while most people recover from myocarditis without any lasting effects, it can sometimes be fatal. Leanne, aged 30, hopes that sharing her son's story will raise awareness about this condition. "I don't want any other parent experiencing what I have gone through," she said. "I want to raise awareness to open up people's minds about the condition.", reports Wales Online : “I don’t want any other parent experiencing what I have gone through,” she said. “I want to raise awareness to open up people’s minds about the condition.” Describing how her family’s nightmare began, Leanne said: “He’d been poorly for a few weeks, but he was fine in himself other than that. “He had also been a bit breathless, but that is a symptom of the condition he was born with: Pierre Robyn syndrome and short long bones. He had always been breathless because of his condition. “Because his chest infection wasn’t improving he had a hospital appointment coming up in November, but obviously it was too late.” On September 13, 2024, Leanne said Riley complained of pain in his tummy area, but seemed fine after a nap. She said: “He complained of a really bad belly in the morning, he was screaming and crying in pain. I thought it was his belly but it was his chest. “I kept him off school and gave him Calpol and he had a nap and he was absolutely fine after that. I took him to his nan’s and he was playing football with my dad, he was fab. “I took him to the shop for sweets and when we got home he said he's going to chill in his bedroom, which he usually did.” Heartbreakingly Leanne said that when she went to call Riley for his dinner later that day she found him unresponsive. “When I went upstairs to get him for his food he was just gone,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. He just got taken away from me.” Since that horrific day Leanne said she had been really struggling. Paying tribute to Riley she said: “He was my whole world and I have been really struggling, life just hasn’t been the same. He was my loudest child and he was so bubbly. “The house is quiet and I am really struggling. I am so glad I have his brothers because if I didn’t it would be even harder for me. “He had such an outgoing personality, he was a really chatty little boy, he would talk to anyone. He loved dancing and swimming. This used to be our favourite time of year, but I can already feel my mood changing. It’s terrible.” Since Riley’s death Leanne has learnt all about the condition. She said Riley had been showing some symptoms of myocarditis but that these symptoms did not clearly suggest that something was seriously wrong. She said: “Symptoms can include shortness of breath, slurred speech and peeing yourself (in children). He was having all of these but I never thought it would be a heart condition.” People with myocarditis can get chest pain and feel breathless, according to the BHF. It’s not unusual for these symptoms to start up to two weeks after being unwell with an infection. Common symptoms of myocarditis according to the BHF include: Some people have no symptoms, and their myocarditis may be picked up as part of a routine health appointment. If you think you have symptoms of myocarditis, contact your doctor straightaway, or call NHS 111. Getting diagnosed and treated early can help you feel better and lower your risk of long-term complications. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
