Ryan was always active playing baseball as a youngster, then roller hockey for many years in Wellington, Fl. (eventually being on the team winning the "Wellington Cup") skate boarding, aggressive skating and snowboarding as well as "roof jumping" "bike crashing" and other unbelievable activities.

Ryan's battle with Ewing's sarcoma started that day with chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation treatments. It lasted for the prescribed 42 weeks of chemotherapy and by the end of 2006 Ryan was given a clean bill of health, no cancer!

Ryan never complained about his plight. He was thankful for his treatments, the medical professionals that cared for him, and when it seemed as though he was getting better he was hesitant to get involved with "Make A Wish" saying that "some other kid who maybe was not doing well would be better off with a wish".

After his prescribed course of treatments were completed and Ryan was declared "in remission" he had about 6-8 months of normal life. He returned to school still bald and eyelash less and eyebrow less that August (2006) on his own and registered for a full schedule of classes including advanced classes.

Ryan did well that year in school, his sophomore year. He did do a "make a wish" that year also. His mother and I bought him a used 1998 Jeep Wrangler and the Make A Wish Foundation "tricked" it out for him with wheels, tires, sound system, custom seats, bumpers, and a winch. Ryan was able to take this Jeep off road in Tennessee and, when ever possible, around and about the Boone area.

In late June of 2007 Ryan began to complain of a pain in his left leg while aggressive skating. Within 2 weeks the pain had become unbearable and we got him back to the doctor. Ryan's diagnosis was not a good one. His Ewing's sarcoma had returned in multiple places including his bone marrow.

Ryan spent the next six months undergoing various chemotherapies. He continued to "live" his life as best he could under the circumstances. His older brothers, Patrick and Brennan, gave him the words "Carpe Diem" which Ryan embodied for the final months and days of his life. The Tuesday before his last day here we went back to the hospital with hope...Ryan dressed himself, put his best shoes on, kept his phone on, and was ready to continue his fight with this disease.

Ryan never gave up hope.