THE family of a six-year-old boy are hoping to make his wishes come true after he was diagnosed with a terminal brain condition.

In the three months since his diagnosis of Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), McCauley Riley of Bolton Road, Ewood, Blackburn, has lost his eyesight and is now struggling to walk.

The genetic condition, which means McCauley has a life expectancy of months to a few years, affects one in 30,000 children in the UK.

His parents, Wayne, 35, and Catherine Riley, 42, said their lives were ripped apart when they heard the diagnosis.

But they have vowed to help him enjoy life, with treats such as swimming with dolphins and a visit to Disney World in Florida planned.

Wayne said: “We thought he was a normal boy with bad eyesight, but then he started walking into a lot of things.

“At school he’d walk into a wall and say other children had tripped him, but the teachers had been watching and there was no one around him.

“At that point we demanded that he had tests and it came back that his brain stems weren’t right. His genetics were pear-shaped.

“We sat in meetings for hours with specialists and I asked what the cure was. The man said there was none, and we were blown apart.

“I’d never heard of the condition, and it seems nobody else has. They do loads of tests on newborns, and they need to do one for ALD.

“If we’d have known about McCauley’s condition then, he might have been able to have a bone marrow transplant that would have given him a better lease of life till he was in his 20s. Having that now would kill him.”

Mccauley’s 12-year-old brother will now be tested to see if he has the same condition, as it only affects males and symptoms can start later in life. His sisters, who are aged 14, 15 and 23, sisters will also be tested to see if they carry the gene.

McCauley, a pupil at The Redeemer CE Primary School in Fernhurst, was taken to Lapland to meet Father Christmas in December, courtesy of a well wisher.

The Make a Wish Foundation have also organised a family trip to Florida in March and Blackburn Rovers players have met McCauley and presented him with signed shirts and a ball.

Now collections have begun around Blackburn to pay for McCauley to have more treats, including a longed-for holiday in Benidorm. He also wants to meet the cast of the ITV comedy named after the Spanish resort.

Wayne said: “Since the diagnosis he has deteriorated very quickly. He’s now registered blind and is struggling to walk.

“He can make out images very close to his eyes, so we’re hoping he will be able to see the dolphins close up and remember them.

“Whatever he wants, he’s got. Not in a spoilt way, but because we want him to be able to enjoy himself and be as normal as possible while he can.

“He’s shy, but is a very strong-willed little boy. The doctor’s thought he’d be in a wheelchair by now and being carried around, but he’s still walking by himself and he’s still going to school.

“The other night he wanted to go out on his scooter, and we let him, because you can’t wrap him up in cotton wool.”

Mum Catherine, a care worker for the elderly, said: “He still plays rough with his brother and sisters and we try to carry on as normal.

“The school have been amazing to him and insisted he stayed there with his friends and in familiar surroundings, rather than being put in a special school.”

ALD is an inherited recessive genetic disorder linked to the X chromosome. The disorder leaves the body unable to break down fat molecules, which build up and damage nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

There are several forms that ALD can take. The most devastating type is the childhood cerebral form which McCauley has, meaning that nerves in the brain are destroyed.

About 35 to 40 percent of all cases of ALD are this type, which usually appears between four and eight years of age in boys.

Those affected will usually become totally disabled in six months to two years, and die sometime after.

Mum Catherine said: “My message to other parents is to be aware of whether their child is bumping into things or losing co-ordination, because it could be the symptoms of ALD.

“More people need to know about this, and they need to know about it sooner rather than later so there’s more medical options available.

“If someone suspects their child is ill, they must demand blood tests and scans. Don’t take no for an answer.”

The 1992 movie Lorenzo's Oil brought the condition to public attention, telling the story of sufferer Lorenzo Odone from Virginia.