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Riley's story.

Riley was born in July 2018 and although small at 5lb13, showed no signs of illness. When he was 8 weeks old he was admitted to hospital with a uti and spent 6 days there on antibiotics. 2 days after we got home we ended up back in hospital and thought it was another uti. Due to being so young and having a temperature, a lumbar puncture was done which shockingly showed that Riley had bacterial meningitis. He spent the next few weeks hooked up to antibiotics and fluids. His tiny veins kept collapsing from the cannulas and there were times he was in a lot of pain. Nothing is harder as a parent than seeing your child so poorly and being unable to help them.

Thankfully, Riley recovered well and when he was 6 months old he had some tests to check his kidneys where it was discovered his left kidney has scarring and his right has reflux. He also had some tests on his bladder which indicated other issues so he was referred to Bristol Children's Hospital. At 8 months old he was diagnosed with Posterior Urethral Valves (PUV), which is where there are blockages in the urethra, preventing him from emptying his bladder properly. He underwent surgery the next day to try and remove the valves. We thought this was a success but he was still unable to urinate by himself. What followed next was multiple surgeries, (currently at a total of 11), sepsis, countless infections and many many hospital stays. He also had spinal surgery in 2022, in which a fatty lump was removed as it was suspected this was pressing on his spinal cord.

Due to constant infections and another bout of sepsis, in August 2020 Riley had an operation to have a vesicostomy, which is a type of stoma allowing urine to free drain from his bladder into a bag. This has changed Riley's and our lives for the better. In the 4 years since that surgery he has only had 1 infection. Riley is however completely incontinent and finds this difficult to accept sometimes.

Riley was very kindly sent a buttony bear and he has become his best friend. He goes everywhere, even to school most days where he keeps the office staff company and is there for cuddles when Riley needs some comfort. It has helped him to understand what he has and why. He wants to raise some money for this amazing charity in order for other children like him to also get a bear. £150 will be enough for 5 bears.

Riley and buttony will be walking approximately 10km in order to try and raise some money. For a 6 year old and a bear this is a long way! Please support him if you can.

Thankyou for taking the time to read his story.

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