Support Ryan's Journey to Recovery

Hello Everyone,

It is with a heavy heart that we ask for support for Ryan and his family.

On Saturday, April 12th, Ryan was involved in a life-altering accident while spending a weekend with friends in Destin Florida. What started out as a fun day in the water, quickly turned into heartbreak as Ryan sustained an injury that rendered him unconscious and unable to move or feel his extremities. He was airlifted by the Coast Guard to Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital's, L1 Trauma Center in Pensacola, where they began working diligently to determine the severity of his injuries. Ryan went through a series of CT scans, MRIs, blood tests, and many other high-cost medical procedures before they were able to diagnose him with SCIWORA (Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiographic Abnormality). Ryan was then admitted to the ICU, where he has remained since the accident, undergoing more testing and beginning his rehabilitation journey. Since the accident, Ryan has regained some mobility and sensation in his arms and legs, and we are very optimistic about his recovery.

Ryan has a passion for life and living it to the fullest. He is an outdoorsman who loves to camp, fish, ride anything motorized, hunt, and many other things. He is a skilled tradesman and craftsman, bringing to life anything his wife, Caitie, desires for her extravagant holiday/party decor! He is a dedicated brother, son, husband, and friend, but most importantly, he is an amazing father to two incredible daughters, Olivia and Harper. Whether it's dance parties, dress-up, or their weekly daddy-daughter nights, he is a "Girl Dad" through and through. Ryan and his family's livelihood depend largely on the small electrical company he owns, where he acts as both owner and manual laborer.

We are hopeful that Ryan will make a full recovery as the prognosis for patients with SCIWORA is promising, but the road is long. He will have to re-learn how to stand up on his own, walk without support, and use his arms and hands. Movements like feeding himself and tying his shoes will become milestones in his recovery. On average, patients with spinal cord injuries will undergo 12-18 months of daily, high-cost rehabilitation. Once Ryan is discharged from Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, he will fly home to Colorado and immediately be admitted to Craig Hospital's inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Center. He will reside there and receive individualized, comprehensive treatment. Once enough progress is made, he will be discharged to their outpatient program and will be able to finally move back home with his wife and children. The ongoing cost of rehab for an open-ended amount of time, in conjunction with the airlift and hospital bills, is yet another huge mountain Ryan and Caitie will have to climb.

While we can't take Ryan's pain away or miraculously make his body move again, we can help to relieve some of the financial stress his family will endure. We are asking that you help us to raise funds to alleviate some of the financial burden for his family while he focuses on recovery and is unable to work.

We cannot thank you enough for your contributions.