Helping Megan Ryan Fight MS

Hi all. This is Tanya Olson and I reaching out to connect with you to ask for your help. I have written this with permission from Megan.

One of my dearest and best friends, Megan Ryan, is a lifelong giver and helper to others, and now really needs our help! Megan is in urgent financial need due to devastating news about the progression of MS.

Megan’s Story

Megan was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in June of 2012. The MS medication she takes has kept the disease under control for a long time, but the progression of the MS is now affecting her in significant, life-altering ways.

Megan is in immediate need of our financial help so that she does not lose her housing. This is in addition to her other basic needs of maintaining healthcare and other basic expenses. All funds raised will go directly to Megan so that she can cover these essential expenses.

Since the time of initial diagnosis, Megan was able to continue full-time employment in the healthcare field, which she has loved. Prior to that time, she also worked as an English teacher and later as a Legislative Assistant. Megan’s work has always been such an important area of her life… not just for income, but also for filling her spirit. Megan has found friendships, meaning, and purpose in her work.

My heart is breaking for her since Megan has now received some devastating news about the significant progression of the MS.

Megan has been recently informed by her neurology medical team that the MS has reached a stage where regular employment is likely no longer an option and a strong recommendation was made to seek out Federal disability services.

Megan was released from a job she loved earlier this year, before receiving this medical information. There is a 4–5-month gap in finances until she can potentially receive income from disability services. Other state financial help will end shortly, and Megan has been working with several state services to navigate this difficult process. This is a large financial distress in addition to the grief process of the news.

Megan’s MS medical costs, even with assistance, in addition to other basic needs of rent, food, transportation, other medical costs, have made it nearly impossible to make ends meet and she is now in danger of not being able to afford these basic needs, as well as the very real possibility of losing her housing.

How We Can Help

Megan is one of the most kind, funny, warm, and generous people I know. She brightens a room just with her presence, and is one of those people who has, “Never met a stranger”. She very rarely asks for assistance and has given so regularly of herself to help others in a multitude of ways. Megan now needs our help!

Please consider donating and sharing this post/story with your own networks in effort to reach as many as possible for this beautiful, courageous, and resilient person.

Any amount helps greatly and is appreciated more than you know! $5, $10, $20, $100, $1,000... whatever you are able to give...the amount doesn't matter- it all helps and can add up quickly if we work together!

Let’s gather together for Megan now, by showing the same goodness of humanity back to her, just as she has spent her life dedicated to the caring and helping of others.