I am writing this on behalf of my dear friend Ryan, who was diagnosed with a severe medical condition called 'Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis' in October of 2023. It is a rare, life threatening and progressive autoimmune disease that causes hardening and thickening of the skin and affects internal organs as well. This condition has changed Ryan's life in every aspect, bringing not only physical pain and limitations but also significant financial strain due to mounting bills and severe emotional unwellness.

The changes his body has gone through over the last 2 years have been debilitating. As many of you know, Ryan has been a talented tree guy for much of his life. There was nothing Ryan couldn't climb. When his symptoms began in 2022, Ryan was 37 years old and in peak physical shape from the many years of tree climbing and tree removal. His symptoms began with itchy, swollen skin all over his body. For several months, doctors struggled to identify the cause, to no avail. The many dead ends were disheartening. During this time, Ryan’s symptoms advanced into ulcers and large open wounds with no obvious cause. They were extremely painful. He had to keep on top of meticulously cleaning them for fear of ending up in the hospital from infection. Over time, they would leave scar tissue so tight it limited his mobility. This made working increasingly more difficult and painful. These areas never healed up, but only got tighter and tighter. Another symptom he developed was Raynaud’s syndrome, which causes reduced blood flow to fingers and toes. His extremities get white, and he loses feeling in them, making it impossible to use his hands. This further proved he could no longer do the work he was conditioned to do. Along with the skin issues, the disease is notorious for progressing to kidneys, lungs and g.i. tract. At 39, Ryan has now been diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension. He’s described it as if he “went from having the body of a 34 year old to a 70 year old in the course of a year and a half.”

Ryan has also struggled with mental illness/depression from an early age. As these changes occurred in his body and he felt his body deteriorating before his eyes, as he dealt with the pain it caused, and saw his capacity to work disappearing along with no answers from doctors, Ryan’s mental condition began to deteriorate as well. And between this progression of the disease, the mental illness, the isolation, and the pain, he sadly fell into depression. He was checked into a mental health facility in the last year. I feared we would lose him several times.

One glimmer of hope was that he still had insurance at this time. He was able to get involved with the most amazing team at The University of Penn, where Ryan had access to top specialists and could seek therapy. They prescribed a slew of medications for him, and he was finally getting the condition slightly under control. But Ryan’s insurance eventually ended, and his unemployment benefits were done. This left Ryan with no ability to work, no means of income, deteriorating health, untreated mental illness and no more access to any of the medications and therapy he desperately needed.

Thankfully, after many hard months of dealing with a system that is difficult to navigate and is set up for people to give up, Ryan is finally on Medicaid. Being on Medicaid gives him access again to the amazing and caring Specialists at U of Penn, therapy and medications.

Unfortunately, Ryan is at the end of his savings. He is left with nothing to pay the most basic of bills or his rent. Ryan would almost certainly be homeless if it were not for the kindness, patience, and understanding of his landlord, who has not received rent in quite some time. Ryan intends to pay him back and appreciates it immensely.

Honestly, Ryan is one of the kindest humans I know. He asks for nothing of anyone and is one of my best friends. It’s been so painful to see him going through all of this and struggling alone. There have been some truly dark days in the last year. The fact that he is still walking among us, (by the grace of whatever God you pray to) and finally fighting back to LIVE in this world is a miracle and I want him to succeed. He is on the right track, and he needs our help. It takes a village.

Ryan is trying to stay positive and fight for a better quality of life. However, the debt he has racked up over the past 2 years has taken its toll. Along with current costs of treatments, medications, doctor visits, and necessary therapies have become overwhelming.

Ryan does not know what the future holds for him. He may never be able to work again. He is in the process of applying for disability, but as many of you know, it is a long process, and it could take months. For now, we hope to help close the gap on the debt that has been accumulated and take one day at a time.

Your generous support will help cover debt from his medical expenses, back rent and credit card debt along with living expenses, to provide some relief as Ryan continues to focus on healing both physically and emotionally. We hope to hire a house cleaner as well to help him get back on track. Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference and will help lift the weight of these financial burdens.

I will be managing the funds and delegate them as needed for Ryan, at his request. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We know this is a lot, but Ryan is an open book.

Thank you for hearing his story. Thank you for your compassion, your kindness, and your willingness to make a difference in Ryan’s journey toward healing. He’s felt he’s been on an island alone for so long and it is time to send him a lifeboat. Your support means the world!

With Love and Hope,

Jenny and Ryan