2025  HONOREE

Ryan loves basketball and was playing on 3 different teams during the fall of 2024 when he was 13 years old.  He began complaining of arm pain and after 3 weeks of supportive measures he complained of pain at night.  He was seen by sports medicine and his xray on 11/25/24 showed an osteosarcoma in his right upper arm.  This was devastating news for Ryan and our family. Osteosarcoma affects approximately 400 children per year in the U.S.  It is a cancer that has not had many advancements in the past 40 years.  Ryan quickly began chemotherapy in December and had limb salvaging surgery in February.  The surgeon was able to resect his tumor and save his arm.  Two weeks following surgery he had to start another twenty weeks of chemo.  Because the chemo for this type of cancer is some of the worst chemotherapy agents, he would need to be admitted to the hospital for his treatments and spend a few nights each time.  Ryan needed to have a G tube placed to help with feeding because he was losing too much weight in February.  Ryan only ever cried twice during his chemo treatments.  Once was after his mom-mom passed away in January and when we told him he needed a G tube.  He has been brave and has fought his cancer with resilience.   He finished his chemotherapy on 8/2/25 and had a normal PET scan.  Ryan will need to have scans and labs every 3 months for the next 2 years and then every 6 months for 3 years.  We will continue to trust in God and hope and pray that Ryan's cancer does not come back.  Ryan started 8th grade this year and is working on rehabbing his right arm.  He wants to play basketball again and is hopeful he will get as much range of motion as he can in the upcoming months.  

Ryan is the youngest of our six children and he adds so much joy to all of our lives.  We are grateful for all of the support we have received since November 2024 and are blessed to have such a wonderful community fighting Ryan's cancer with us.  Thank you for taking a swing at cancer for Ryan.