![\"Riley](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762029907_980_2_ljr_021024_rileyjfif.jpg\")
Riley Jay Sheen passed away unexpectedly(Image: Supplied by Leanne Ralls)<\/p>\nRiley Jay Sheen had what looked like a relatively harmless cold or flu bug, sadly it turned out to be far more seriousRiley Jay Sheen passed away unexpectedly(Image: Supplied by Leanne Ralls)<\/p>\n
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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) explains that while most people recover from myocarditis without any lasting effects, it can sometimes be fatal.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I want to raise awareness to open up people’s minds about the condition.”, reports Wales Online<\/a>: \u201cI don\u2019t want any other parent experiencing what I have gone through,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to raise awareness to open up people\u2019s minds about the condition.\u201d<\/p>\n Describing how her family\u2019s nightmare began, Leanne said: \u201cHe\u2019d been poorly for a few weeks, but he was fine in himself other than that.<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause his chest infection wasn\u2019t improving he had a hospital appointment coming up in November, but obviously it was too late.\u201d<\/p>\n On September 13, 2024, Leanne said Riley complained of pain in his tummy area, but seemed fine after a nap.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019s and he was playing football with my dad, he was fab.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Heartbreakingly Leanne said that when she went to call Riley for his dinner later that day she found him unresponsive.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I went upstairs to get him for his food he was just gone,\u201d she said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t expecting it at all. He just got taken away from me.\u201d<\/p>\n Since that horrific day Leanne said she had been really struggling. Paying tribute to Riley she said: \u201cHe was my whole world and I have been really struggling, life just hasn\u2019t been the same. He was my loudest child and he was so bubbly.<\/p>\n \u201cThe house is quiet and I am really struggling. I am so glad I have his brothers because if I didn\u2019t it would be even harder for me.<\/p>\n \u201cHe 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\u2019s terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n Since Riley\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cSymptoms 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Symptoms of myocarditis<\/p>\n People with myocarditis can get chest pain and feel breathless, according to the BHF. It\u2019s not unusual for these symptoms to start up to two weeks after being unwell with an infection.<\/p>\n Common symptoms of myocarditis according to the BHF include:<\/p>\n chest pain or discomfort, or a feeling of tightness in the chestshortness of breath, either at rest or when active, or in certain positions, such as lying downunusual tirednesspalpitations (like your heart is fluttering, racing, or pounding)an irregular heartbeatfeeling light-headed or faintingflu-like symptoms such as high temperature, headaches, body aches, joint pain, or sore throatrarely, swelling in hands, legs, ankles or feet.<\/p>\n Some people have no symptoms, and their myocarditis may be picked up as part of a routine health appointment.<\/p>\n If you think you have symptoms of myocarditis, contact your doctor straightaway, or call NHS<\/a> 111.<\/p>\n Getting diagnosed and treated early can help you feel better and lower your risk of long-term complications.<\/p>\n![\"Leanne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_ljr.jpg\")
Leanne wants to raise awareness of the condition(Image: John Myers)<\/p>\n![\"Leanne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762029909_781_0_ljr_301025_riley1.jpg\")
Leanne said Riley didn’t have obvious symptoms of a heart condition(Image: Leanne Ralls)<\/p>\n