Big Wes.

[It's Baggio]

A piece in the Sun on QPR and a far more important battle facing Wes and his family.

SKIPPER Wes Morgan led relegation-threatened Forest to a precious point as they fought back to get a draw.

Then the Forest central defender left the City Ground to see an even bigger battler... his nine-month-old son Rio.

Baby Rio has been in hospital intensive care for the past two weeks fighting off a life-threatening attack of pneumonia.

Wes and his girlfriend Shaneen have been living in the Leicester hospital to be at baby Rio’s bedside.

He said: “It’s been a tough couple of weeks for us but I think we have got through the worst of it now.

“Rio is still in intensive care but today they’ve taken him off his ventilator so things are looking a bit better.

“The first week was the worst because it could have gone either way.

“He was in a Nottingham hospital but was transferred to Leicester because he had to go on a lung bypass machine for a while. He came through that all right and things are better now.

“We knew it was very bad at the time but he has improved a lot. It was scary to see your little baby lying there helpless... it’s hard.

“Life is short so it makes you think of things a lot. Rio had pneumonia and it all began from there — his lungs have been drained and it’s looking better

“He’s a big strong lad — just like his dad — and I knew he was going to pull through.

“The manager has been really supportive. He told me to take as much time as I needed.

“The lads and staff have been tremendous as well. I’ve had flowers and presents for Rio and have had loads ot texts and phone calls checking on how he was progressing. We’re a close unit and I felt the love.

“As soon as I thought Rio was over the worst of it I felt comfortable enough to come back to training.

“Football is my livelihood but family comes first. There is always another game of football around the corner but you don’t get second chances when it comes to family.

“I still love my football and can’t ever see that changing but it’s family and football for me in that order.”

Morgan’s men took the lead through a 45th minute Lewis McGugan penalty only for Matteo Alberti to fire his first QPR goal three minutes into stoppage time.

Alberti, 19, put Rangers ahead three minutes after the restart with a snap shot. But Chris Cohen’s 67th minute header from Luke Chambers’ far post cross made it 2-2.

Morgan added: “We knew we had to bounce back after losing to Derby in the FA Cup here in midweek.

“It was a real blow to concede a goal just before the break but we showed a lot of character. We did well to get back from 2-1 down and in the end it’s a good result.”

QPR keeper Lee Camp, who spent 15 games on loan at Forest earlier in the season, insisted he was blocked on the line by a Forest player for Cohen’s equaliser.

Camp said: “Just as I’m about to jump I got smashed from the right-hand side. I asked the ref but he said not a chance so you have to accept it and move on.”

Penalty hero McGugan stepped up for the first-half spot-kick — awarded for an Alberti trip on Chambers — because Robert Earnshaw was out injured and Nathan Tyson was substituted after 12 minutes with a bad gash above his right eye.

Camp said: “We did some penalties in training when I was here and I saved a few from Robert and Nathan.

“But I never got anywhere near any from Lewis when I was here. And, credit to him, it was a good penalty.”

 

[Randy Bumgardener]

Wes has been irreplacable this season, and for him to keep his performances up whilst going through this kind of heartache is a testament to the man ! He deserves all the plaudits coming his way. I'd hate to think how it would of affected me, but all my best wishes and prayers for the lad. I just hope his little one will become a big an asset as his dad (for Forest) when he grows up. All the best Wes and family ! I think I can speak for us all when I say all Forest fans wish the little one a speedy recovery !

 

[IanStoreyMoore]

WES - A GIANT OF A MAN BOTH ON AND OFF THE FIELD>

If you read this Wes then be assured we ALL wish your Son a speedy recovery and a happy return home soon !

 

[Samuel]

All the best Wes.

Always been one of my favourite players.

 

[The Maniacal Megatron]

Here's to wishing Rio a very speedy recovery and best wishes to your family, Wes.

 

[Beasty]

I remember when Wes came to my school a few years back, he went to the school that was on the same site as mine was, Wilford Meadows I think it was called, Pennant and Jenas went there too I believe. Pennant came to hand out awards to students the year before I think.

He came with a youth guy I think, no idea who it was thinking back on it.

He's come a long way since then, I had no idea he'd become such a rock to us and for so long! He wasn't in the first team all that reguarly then. He was quiet and didn't have the confidence to speak to us, he let the youth guy do the talking, now look at him!

All the best Wes for you and Rio, everyone is thinking of you.

If somehow you read this, we love ya!

Maybe someone could some how direct him here somehow!

 

[Gary]

Best of luck Wes and Rio. You're in our prayers.

 

[DaveRedDog]

He is going through all this and still putting in the performances, he is also carrying an injury and has taken over as captain. 100% respect for Wes for all this and I hope his son gets well soon.

 

[benjiabc]

Wes is a legend and may god be with his son

 

[adam09]

I echo the above sentiments. Wes is a true Forest hero. I hope he makes it to 500 games and plays in the Premiership with us.

 

[Thompson]

top man wes and fair play to the man.

 

[Big Chris]

Why did we find this out from a tabloid. Should the club have said something?

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

why would the club comment on this, it's too personal, they obviously left it up to wes to either speak about it or not

 

[ross_pep]

Wes is an absolute legend at Forest and can be relied upon time after time at the back and can also be our most threatening striker ;D.

Best wishes to his son, hope everything ends ok.

 

[Alex C]

Wes should be the formal club captain.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

agreed, he is the most "forest" of all the team, perchy and cohen a close second, maybe bennet's in with a shout if he has a good run of games

 

[Mist Rolling In...]

Why did we find this out from a tabloid. Should the club have said something?

Page 12 and 13 of Saturday's programme. There's an interview with Big Wes, where he discusses how it's affected him, and how supportive the club have been.

Things like this put everything into perspective! Best wishes to him and his family.

 

[Quinn^2]

All the best Rio, wish you a speedy recovery.

Just goes to show you, even Wes hasnt had a dip in form because of this, there could be a number of reasons why a players mind isnt totally in a game for one reason or another and results in a bad game or so.

 

[marshal99]

I hope that once his son healed up and out of the hospital , the club will sit down with Wes and talk about a new contract. Now is not the right time to do so but it should be settled before the season ends.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

when does his current one expire?

 

[marshal99]

when does his current one expire?

End of the season.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

really, bloody hell, gerrim signed up now

 

[marshal99]

They tied up Tyson & perch contracts which was due to expire , i imagine that they will do so with Wes when it's the appropriate time . I certainly do not want to see another commons/clingan situation where it was left to expire and they went elsewhere.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

i'm sure it'll be right just hope someone don't offer him a big wage and signing on fee, ala commons, hope to see wes in his testimonial for forest

 

[Jaybo.]

I very much doubt Wes would leave forest.