My new little lad is unfortunately very ill. What started as difficulty feeding and being very sleepy has now been diagnosed as major heart problems. My wife and i are now with him in the Evalina childrens hospital in london , awaiting the decision of when his heart surgery will take place. Needless to say its been a very emotional day , if anybody has some spare good vibes please send them our way. JAE is obviously off the cards for me now and i would have given my ticket to somebody to use but looks like i wont be home to be able to send it to anyone else.
Feels totally surreal to be typing this stuff atm but seems like the more people i tell the more real it becomes.
Guys
i really dont know what to say to you both 
that is heart wrenching news , totally gutting
all i can say is that my thoughts are with you all and my fingers crossed that all goes well at this very difficult time for you .
Regards and best wishes
Craig
ill pray everythin goes well and he recovers FAST. all the best.
Hi Duncan,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Steve and Tracy
All of the above
Diane & Julian.
Really feel for you and your family. Keep positive as it’s amazing what the doctors and surgeons can do nowadays. I hope everything goes well.
Definitely puts my leg issues into perspective.
Hope everything sorts itself out, thoughts with you and your family.
Same as others have said.
Hope your lad makes a speedy and full recovery.
Thoughts are with you, you should be feeling the positive vibes.
Best wishes
Hi Duncan
The very best of Wishes go to you little boy from all of us here involved with the Empire and i am sure i can speak for all those who attend the Essex meet too…
I honestly dont know what else to say…
My very best wishes Rob
Your little fella is in good hands, with loving parents at his side, and some real professionals standing by to sort it out.
My warmest wishes to you all,
Mike
Like everyone else I really wish there was something I could say that would make things better for you and your family. Rset assured every positive vibe I have is going to you your boy and your family.
I hope things get better as soon as possible
All the best to you and family and I agree what everyone has said…
Always worse when it’s one of your kids, you feel so helpless.
My son was in hospital for a week last month spots from head to toes, couldn’t walk as his muscles ached to much.
Turned out he had a bad reaction to Influenza.
Went to work one of the days he was in and I just couldn’t do a thing, just felt like I was going through the motion, but not really there.
Hope it all goes well for your son, they can do lots of things now.
Mark
Quick update . Thanks for all the good wishes and vibes. Riley had his surgery yesterday and is responding well , lots of lines and drains are being removed now. Seems he is a little fighter and his heart is able to work enough , now that his aorta is fixed, to keep him going. Obviously we have recovery to get through but all the surgeons , consultants and doctors involved are amazed at his resilience and strength. Everything points towards a full recovery and active life life ahead of him , with just a little monitering of his heart function. This is by far the best outcome we could have hoped for and Caroline and i can only praise the amazing work of all the NHS staff involved.
That’s really Good News to hear Duncan, I am pleased for you
Cheers Rob
As Rob has said
That is really good news Duncan 8) it is amazing what can be done nowadays .
Craig 
Wonderful News.
And hope he has a speedy recovery,
Best wishes
Malc
Great news. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery
And this is why we have to keep fighting to keep our NHS as good as this.
These guys are really amazing and all we have to do is pay a little each month from our wages 
The NHS performs miracle’s every minute of every day.
I’m so glad Riley has pulled through this very tough time and has the support of a very strong family. I’m sure he’ll pull through to a full and speedy recovery, as you’ve already said he is a real fighter 
Our very best wishes go out to Riley and yourselves.
Thanks for all the comments guys. Riley is out of intensive care now and on the high dependancy ward. He is getting better so quickly that he is surprising everyone. He has been feeding well today which was his final hurdle. Caroline can sleep next to him now so i will be going home tomorow to see our big boy and make sure he is ok. Then my plan is to come to JAE after all and blow off some serious steam before heading back to hospital. It has been a roller coaster few days but the consultants feel he should be back home with us by the middle of next week