Here's to Ryan's brightest future!

My name is Jennifer and I'm raising funds on behalf of my brother Ryan. On January 22, 2023, Ryan was in a devastating car wreck and sustained a complete C7 spinal cord injury (SCI). As a result, he has quadriplegia with limited movement in his wrists and hands and no sensation or movement below mid-chest.

Beginning in late February 2023, Ryan and our family attended spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation at Craig Hospital near Denver, Colorado. This specialized, highly intensive program was crucial to maximizing Ryan's neurological recovery and return to the most independent, productive life possible. Because his health insurance only covers services provided in Nevada, Ryan and our family paid out-of-pocket for all expenses related to Craig Hospital. (Staying in-state was not an option as no facility in Nevada provides comparable treatment.) Craig Hospital required a deposit of over $340,000 before Ryan could even be admitted. This staggering dollar amount was why I started this GoFundMe campaign.

Those of us who know Ryan personally are familiar with his positivity, drive, and determination, especially when it comes to physical health. So it came as no surprise when Ryan progressed through his inpatient SCI rehab at a rapid pace. Craig Hospital staff and fellow patients constantly noted Ryan's hard work and the invaluable support provided by Myung, Bob, and Caroline. As a four-person team, they committed themselves to learning and adapting to this new "quad" life. Their efforts paid off swiftly and Ryan was discharged from Craig Hospital in mid-May 2023.

Ryan, Caroline, Myung, and Bob are now living together in Nevada. Understandably the return home has been a challenge, but they do their best to stay positive and support each other. Their continued goal is to achieve the most independence possible for Ryan. And this goal is hugely expensive. Wheelchair purchase and maintenance. Prescription medications. Medical supplies like nitrile gloves and foam dressings. Home renovations for accessibility. Shower and commode chairs. Mattresses and cushions to prevent pressure injuries. Wheelchair-accessible vehicle purchase and maintenance. Adaptive computer hardware and software. Physical therapy equipment. These and many other costs, tangible and intangible, will be present for the rest of Ryan's life.

Ryan graduated from Craig Hospital, but the financial burden is no less - just different. So I'm going to keep this GoFundMe campaign open with a new focus: supporting Ryan and his caregivers at home. Thank you for joining me to support them!