- J
We are asking people for support with a challenge for which Ryne will need all the help and love we can give him.
Ryne has been in and out of doctors’ offices over the last four months searching for the source of his cancer. After CT and PET scans did not reveal any masses, doctors decided to remove the lymph node on the right side of his neck (where the original cancerous cells were found). The removal of the lymph node caused Ryne to experience a terrible and intense rash across his body.
In mid-February, through a simultaneous endoscopy and colonoscopy, a chicken egg-sized mass in his stomach and a polyp in his colon were discovered. They were able to remove the polyp in his colon and took a sample from the stomach mass.
The colon polyp came back as precancerous, and the mass in his stomach helped doctors arrive at the diagnosis of Systemic, ALK Negative, CD30+, Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), a very rare form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). Only about 1% of those with NHL have this particular type of T-Cell Lymphoma.
Ryne, Laura, and their two little girls are awaiting the results of a bone marrow biopsy to determine what stage the lymphoma is at. As a start, Ryne is beginning six courses of chemotherapy over 18 weeks.
Over this time, Ryne has lost many days of work due to undergoing and recovering from the various medical tests. With his wife Laura unemployed due to Covid-19, and also suffering from medical issues that might cost her her sight, their financial situation is increasingly dire. Short term disability will likely take a very long time before Ryne will be able to utilize it. Medical bills are starting to come in and Ryne’s treatment will keep him from working for at least the next six months. His monthly insurance premium is $500 alone. With the various medical tests, Ryne has not been able to work consistently, causing their mortgage to fall into forbearance, which will expire in April.
However, Ryne is already a seasoned fighter with rare diseases. At only 13 years old he suffered from another rare disease - Cold Antibody Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia - where a virus attached to his red blood cells. The six weeks he spent in the ICU of Children’s Memorial Hospital involved five plasmapheresis, eight complete blood transfusions, thousands of milligrams of steroids pumped into him, MRSA around his heart, and five frightening occasions where he needed to be resuscitated.
Ryne spent his freshman year of high school homebound on an IV drip. Doctors said that he would not be able to hold down a job, a relationship, or have children. He has proved them all wrong and has done great things with his life, as seen in his loving family.
Now Ryne is facing another trial that is taking all his time, attention, and energy. The five-year survivability of this type of cancer can vary wildly, depending on its current progression and other compounding factors.
Ryne and his family are looking at the positives: he is young, and the current course of treatment, as well as his symptoms, make them hopeful that that the cancer is not at a late stage. There is a chance that he will be able to get the cancer into long term remission, but there is also a possibility for it to resurface and require stem cell treatment - but that is something to worry about at another time.
He and his family need help to overcome this latest challenge. Any amount helps, and any amount will be very much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this. We will update as soon as we know more.
Ryne has been in and out of doctors’ offices over the last four months searching for the source of his cancer. After CT and PET scans did not reveal any masses, doctors decided to remove the lymph node on the right side of his neck (where the original cancerous cells were found). The removal of the lymph node caused Ryne to experience a terrible and intense rash across his body.
In mid-February, through a simultaneous endoscopy and colonoscopy, a chicken egg-sized mass in his stomach and a polyp in his colon were discovered. They were able to remove the polyp in his colon and took a sample from the stomach mass.
The colon polyp came back as precancerous, and the mass in his stomach helped doctors arrive at the diagnosis of Systemic, ALK Negative, CD30+, Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL), a very rare form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL). Only about 1% of those with NHL have this particular type of T-Cell Lymphoma.
Ryne, Laura, and their two little girls are awaiting the results of a bone marrow biopsy to determine what stage the lymphoma is at. As a start, Ryne is beginning six courses of chemotherapy over 18 weeks.
Over this time, Ryne has lost many days of work due to undergoing and recovering from the various medical tests. With his wife Laura unemployed due to Covid-19, and also suffering from medical issues that might cost her her sight, their financial situation is increasingly dire. Short term disability will likely take a very long time before Ryne will be able to utilize it. Medical bills are starting to come in and Ryne’s treatment will keep him from working for at least the next six months. His monthly insurance premium is $500 alone. With the various medical tests, Ryne has not been able to work consistently, causing their mortgage to fall into forbearance, which will expire in April.
However, Ryne is already a seasoned fighter with rare diseases. At only 13 years old he suffered from another rare disease - Cold Antibody Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia - where a virus attached to his red blood cells. The six weeks he spent in the ICU of Children’s Memorial Hospital involved five plasmapheresis, eight complete blood transfusions, thousands of milligrams of steroids pumped into him, MRSA around his heart, and five frightening occasions where he needed to be resuscitated.
Ryne spent his freshman year of high school homebound on an IV drip. Doctors said that he would not be able to hold down a job, a relationship, or have children. He has proved them all wrong and has done great things with his life, as seen in his loving family.
Now Ryne is facing another trial that is taking all his time, attention, and energy. The five-year survivability of this type of cancer can vary wildly, depending on its current progression and other compounding factors.
Ryne and his family are looking at the positives: he is young, and the current course of treatment, as well as his symptoms, make them hopeful that that the cancer is not at a late stage. There is a chance that he will be able to get the cancer into long term remission, but there is also a possibility for it to resurface and require stem cell treatment - but that is something to worry about at another time.
He and his family need help to overcome this latest challenge. Any amount helps, and any amount will be very much appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this. We will update as soon as we know more.