Happy Birthday Richard.

My number one son is 22 today. He had a difficult start to his life, he was born unable to swallow.

This mean that his oesophagus (food pipe) was connected to his trachea (windpipe). He has a pouch in his throat where the oesophagus should have been. He was transported to Bristol royal childrens hospital and the next day had a major operation to repair the defect.

This was a heart breaking time as I had never heard of Oesophageal atresis (OA) and Tracheo oesophageal fistula (TOF).

Finding out 30 years later that I had the same condition was another shock but advised us as a family that there was a congenital illness in the genes.

22 years on and Rich is a happy, healthy man.

We celebrated Richard's un- birthday a few days ago because Kieran doesn't get back till late tonight. I am taking him out for a birthday breakfast today.

Richard, have a wonderful day, love you so much x x x