I'VE BEEN a journalist for the last eight years now, so I'm very much used to being the person asking the questions.
So, it's strange being on the 'other side' of this article - but I believe it's a story which needs to be told and one that is, of course, close to my heart.
A little about me first; I am from Anglesey and have worked for the Leader for the last three years or so now.
I was previously with our sister papers; Denbighshire Free Press, North Wales Chronicle, North Wales Pioneer and Rhyl Journal teams (and occasionally still write for them).
In April of this year, I became a father for the first time as me and my wife, Georgina, welcomed beautiful Ffredi Fôn Evans into the world at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
However, although it looked to us as though he was initially doing really well, it later became apparent that his bowel was not working as it should be.
After two days, Ffredi was transferred to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool and over the course of eight days he was treated by the incredible surgical and neonatal teams in neonatal ICU.
He was then diagnosed with Hirschsprungs - a rare congenital disease that affects around 200 babies and children a year in the UK (1 in 5,000).
For Ffredi and other children with Hirschsprungs disease, their large intestine doesn’t work in the way it should, meaning that the bowel can become blocked and result in a very serious infection.
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In August of this year, he will have surgery at Alder Hey Hospital to repair the defect in his bowel - and we are certain that he will be in the most fantastic hands possible.
While staying at Alder Hey, we couldn’t be more grateful for the care we have so far received from the incredible teams that work there - from the doctors who took their time to explain every step to us to the nurses who took care of Ffredi and us from day 1 to 8 at every hour of the day, the additional funds that subsidised our meals so we could eat, and the infant feeding team who supported Georgina, among others.
I also wanted to thank the Ronald McDonald Houses Charity which provide support to families of sick children, including the Ronald McDonald house where I could sleep each night, instead of doing the almost 200-mile round trip each day.
As outpatients, we have continued to receive incredible care and, we will soon be re-admitted for Ffredi to have his operation and will once again be incredibly grateful for the support and care we will no doubt receive while we stay at Alder Hey. He will remain under the care of Alder Hey Children's Hospital for the rest of his childhood.
That’s why I’m raising money for Alder Hey Children’s Charity by hosting a charity football match at Llangoed Football Club on Sunday, July 28 (2pm kick off).
That will feature a mixture of players I have had the pleasure of both playing alongside and coaching down the years before stepping away from the game last year.
Some - including myself - haven't played for a few seasons, others are still very much playing now, but I'm grateful to every single one of them for agreeing to take part, it should be a fantastic match (and a laugh for anyone watching me 'play'!).
(Image: Arron Evans)
The two teams will battle it out for the honour of being the first-ever winners of the Ffredi Evans Trophy. We hope it can become an annual match should the first one prove successful.
Our fundraiser has so far collected over £900 and can be donated to here.
We are also hoping for a decent crowd on the day at Llangoed's home ground of Tyddyn Paun (£2 entry).
Any donations would be gratefully received of course, but above all I hope to raise awareness of Hirschsprungs disease and highlight the fantastic work done by the Alder Hey Children's Charity.
Being a journalist was always my dream job growing up and I'm lucky enough to do that every day. But, being a father is now another dream come true, despite the challenges we've faced as a family so far.
Ffredi is now three months old and the happiest boy with the cheekiest smile. We owe so much of that to Alder Hey.
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