Help is needed in burying my son, Ryan Ogoye Rossiter

Hello, my name is Lawrence Dominic Rossiter. My son was killed in a car accident retuning from his grandmother's funeral. Here is the narrative:

My mother-in-law, Felida Sylvia Ogoda Ogoye, affectionately call Min Chogo, passed away in February. The funeral was held in Macalder, Kenya on March 8th and 9th. I am holding this fund raiser because my wife and I as well as her family spent all our money on her funeral. We had planned on one to two thousand people attending. She was well liked in the community and the extended family of about five hundred relatives were expected. As it turned out we had more than four thousand attendees, including around fifty government dignitaries. Needless to say, the funeral went way over budget.

Mise and Metrin at Min Chogo's funeral.

The reason I am holding this fund raiser is because of what happened next. On March 12th, my eldest son, Ryan, his buddy, my niece, Mise, and my niece, Metrin loaded up their car and headed back to Nairobi. That evening they had a motor vehicle accident. Ryan's buddy was killed instantly and my son, Ryan, succumbed to his injuries the next day. My nieces, Metrin and Mise are in critical condition.

Doctor Ryan Ogoye Rossiter

After the accident, I spent whatever was needed at the moment. Needless to say, we came home with no money. We are planning to hold my son's funeral and burial May 3rd and 4th in Macalder, Kenya. The only problem is none of us have any money left. I am not one who easily asks for help, but I do not know how I can do it without your help. I have set a goal of $40,000. That will only be enough get my son out of the morgue and have his funeral. I still have two nieces with extensive medical bills. Anything I raise over the funds needed for my son's funeral will go to help with their medical expenses.

Thank you for your prayers and support. I am still in shock from all that has happened. Below are some more photos:

The vehicle after the accident.

Ryan in the hospital with my son Teddy.

I did not make it to the hospital until after Ryan had passed.

Mise in the hospital.

Metrin in the hospital.

Metrin before the accident.

Let me tell you a little about Ryan. He made school seem easy. He was in the top of his class every year. On top of that he was a natural born leader. He treated everyone with respect. He was a great big brother to Teddy and Sonia. Ryan would notice that one of his classmates didn't have anywhere to go at break and he would invite them home where they were treated as an honored guest. As a youngster, he would see the homeless walking the streets naked. He would ask his mother, "What is wrong with them?" and his mother would reply, "They are sick son." Ryan decided then he would become a doctor to treat the poor and needy.

Last year he had finally graduated from medical school as a surgeon with honors. He had not gotten a position in a public hospital yet, so he started his own practice. Most of his clientele were tight for funds and Ryan accepted what the client could afford. He told me he was not making much, but it was enough to get by. He even treated some of his clients' pets. He believed in treating his clients wholistically, like Dr. Paul Farmer.

It breaks my heart that the community is deprived of his skill. He was planning to come to the United States study optometry. I am grateful that Ryan was in my life, but I am filled with sorrow that his life was cut short right when it was beginning. He left behind a 4-year-old son, Ryan junior.

Please help me bury my son, and if possible, help with the building medical expenses for my nieces.

Here is a little more about my son, Ryan.

He was simply Ryan. Human enough to get on your nerves at times especially with his stubbornness and know it all attitude. I mean he was a bright one, knew it and didn’t downplay it. And even when he was all this, he was kind, loving and a happy person. There is no point he wouldn’t make you laugh with his jokes and wittiness. He was a big fan of happiness and life and didn’t waste any opportunity living it.

His love and kindness were infectious, and, in this way, you’d experience his generosity. One minute you’d be quarrelling over some dumb stuff and the next you’d be laughing together over God knows what. And behind every struggle and hurt that he covered so well he maintained high spirits and tried, however he knew to be a son, brother, cousin or just simply a family member.

The way amid his jokes and laughter he would notice how hard you were trying and how much it hadn’t worked out, and he would tell you what he probably wanted to hear himself. That it would work out eventually and go back to his joke.

He was one of those people who didn’t complicate things, for him everything was simple, it either worked or it did not. He didn’t need much to get by.

The irony is with him dying so young, I don’t think he has missed out on so much. Maybe the growing old and grey part, because he did live and embraced life in his own way. I bet his every day had adventures and experiences, and the way he knew so many people! You would walk with him on the pathway and be stopping every minute to say hi and sometimes my mind would be like, “how the hell did you meet that one?”

There was rarely a dull day for him and even if he had them which I’m sure he did he never pinned it on anyone. I only hope he died happy and dancing through it all because he loved dancing. But above all is the way he connected with the family, he had the backs of everyone who needed him, probably not in the way they preferred but in his own way he did. Because that’s the way he was, his own person.

Thank you for your support and prayers. They are deeply needed.