Ryan’s Road to Recovery

As many of you know Ryan has been in a fight for his life since 11/29/2019. While things are starting to improve Ryan still has a long road to recovery. All of the prayers and well wishes have been amazing and I know that Holly is incredibly thankful for all of them. There is going to be continual care for quite awhile an Ryan will be off of work for sometime. With that being said any help financially or otherwise would be very much appreciated. For a family that does so much to help others it is now the time to help them! For those of you who don’t know what has been going on I have included a couple of posts that were shared on their Facebook to inform you. As of 12/1/19 Quick overview of what has been happening with Ryan without all the doctor terms... He was feeling sick since Monday with chills and a fever. Then Thanksgiving morning it turned more into heart burn like pains. Friday he woke up and was uncomfortable, sweating and shortness of breath. Holly called ambulance just in time per the paramedics and he was taken to St. Luke's (east) They determined his heart was in VTAC and ended up coding twice. Which resulted in CPR twice and being shocked several times. He was then transferred to St. Luke's on the Plaza. The moment he arrived the OR was waiting for him so he was rushed into surgery. Since all of his labs came back normal and negative for the flu - They knew it was a virial infection that had attacked his heart. He had alot of swelling around his heart and very little function. The surgery was to put in place the ECMO machine that is pumping his blood for him. So his heart doesn't have to work so hard. The ECMO machine is taking blood from his body, removing carbon dioxide and puts oxygen into it. Then is returning 4.5-5 liters per minute back into his body. Allowing the swelling in his heart to go down and his body a chance to fight the infection. He is on a ventilator but at the lowest setting. That is to more assist his body to again not work so hard using all energy to fight the infection. When a person is on a ECMO machine 99% of the time are on a ventilator too because the body needs rest. He is heavily sedated much like you would be for surgery to keep him comfortable along with pain medication. They have lowered the sedation many times to have him respond to commands like nod his head, wiggle his fingers and toes - All which he has been able to do very well. Then they up his pain medication and put him back to sleep. His heart had started to slowly do more of the "pumping" action. Which shows it is getting stronger. The nurses are all fighting who gets to take care of him. Holly keeps going back to check that they have not made any moves! Keeping in good spirits and positive vibes only here!! Ryan just needs alot of rest and time to get through his infection. There will be a long recovery process after, but they will tackle that head on when the time comes. Just like everything they have done for their sweet boys!! As of 12/5/19 *UPDATE* Ryan is headed into surgery now. The plan is to take him off the ECMO machine. As well as find where he is bleeding (lightly) internally. Over the last couple days they have needed to give him extra blood, but that is not uncommon with the size of tubes the ECMO machine uses to transfer the blood. Depending on the surgery today. The next game plan /steps are to lower his sedation slowly and leave him on the ventilator. Then once he has tolerated being back down from ECMO and sedation - They will attempt to take out the ventilator. One step at a time and slowly. Holly has loved all the prayers, hugs and support Keep the good vibes and positive attitude coming.