J. Erik Ryan Legal Support

Dear Erik's Friends,

Erik is not well.  To those who have reached out with concern for Erik, we thank you. Erik has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia with anosognosia and delusions.  This diagnosis is one of the worst types of mental illness, where someone doesn't know or have any insight into the fact that they are sick.  People with this illness are in a 24hr delusion without an awareness that their reality is any different from our own.  We believe he has been suffering for years.

Due to his illness, he has become very paranoid and does not recognize Annmari, me or even his neighbor who he has known for over 10 years.  He no longer thinks we are "real" and thinks we are impostors.  This has been going on for the last three years with us and all attempts to help him have not been successful. Because of his illness, we cannot communicate with Erik.  Erik is nearing foreclosure on his condo and now is begging on Mercer Street in Seattle.  He will not accept any cash from me and ran away from me when I last saw him.  If you happen to see him at any of the locations he typically frequents (Queen Anne Ave N Starbucks, outside Metropolitan Market and outside QFC on Mercer St.) you may also try to give him cash if you see him. Please let me know if you’re successful. We have been trying to pay his bills behind the scenes but without Erik’s permission, it's near impossible to contact a bank, mortgage or any financial institution to help him. 

Here is our plan:

I am now making a stand to obtain his legal guardianship and have hired legal counsel.   The goal is for me to become Erik's guardian in the next 30-90 days.

Once the Guardianship is achieved, I will immediately apply on behalf of Erik for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for him to have this income for the rest of his life.   As a guardian, I will sign the forms on his behalf.   I will also hire an SSDI attorney to navigate and expedite this complicated application process.  

Next, I will help Erik secure an apartment in Seattle (as I then can sign as his Guardian) when he can no longer live at his current residence and provide him further financial support once I have access to his accounts.   

This gofundme is mainly for Erik's Guardianship and SSDI legal support.  These first important steps are needed to help steer Erik back in the right direction. Next is working on a medical intervention plan to provide Erik treatment.  This will be the hardest part as Erik does not think he has an illness.   So one step at a time and I know Erik would appreciate that all his friends and colleagues are also looking out for him. 

Thank you,

Karl Ryan (Erik's Brother)