Stand with Firefighter Ryan Mizell: A Hero's Fight

Ryan Mizell has been a dedicated member of the Helena Fire Department for over a decade, serving as a firefighter/paramedic with unwavering commitment. He is 47 years old. Ryan has also spent eight years working at the McAdory Fire Department. He also founded West Shelby Lawn Care. In his time off from the Fire Department, he landscaped.

Ryan is not just a firefighter; he's a family man. He is married to his wife Charolette, who is a teacher at Jemison High School, and they have two beautiful daughters, aged 14 and 9. Known for his outgoing personality and sense of humor, Ryan has always been the one to keep spirits high, whether at home, at work, on calls, or in the community. His ability to make others laugh is a staple of his character.

In April of this year, Ryan received the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer, which had already spread to his liver and lungs. Despite this overwhelming challenge, Ryan’s spirits have remained high. He immediately began chemotherapy, undergoing eight weeks (four rounds of treatment) only to find that the fight was far from over. The doctors recommended another eight weeks of chemo before they could consider surgery.

On July 15th, while receiving his sixth round of chemo, Ryan’s vitals dropped, and he was rushed to the emergency room. It was discovered that he had a perforated bowel caused by the cancer, leading to emergency surgery. During this surgery, the doctors not only removed the tumor and cleaned up a lot of infection, but also discovered that the cancer on his liver had grown. Ryan faced another major surgery to remove his entire colon and part of his intestine.

After two intense surgeries and four days of uncertainty, Ryan woke up on July 18th, surrounded by his wife and fellow firefighters. Over two weeks later, Ryan was finally able to return home. However, his fight is not yet over. Ryan still has a long road ahead as he recovers from the effects of the surgeries, battles sepsis, and continues his fight against cancer.

In recognition of his service and the fact that his cancer is one of the presumptive cancers linked to the hazards of firefighting, Ryan has now been medically retired. Yet, his determination remains as strong as ever. Ryan is facing this battle with the same courage and resilience that he has shown throughout his life.

As his community, we stand with Ryan and his family during this challenging time. We are organizing a fundraiser to support them as they navigate this difficult journey. Ryan has spent his life protecting and serving others; now it’s our turn to support him. Let’s come together to help Ryan continue his fight with the same strength and determination that has defined his life of service.