Help Ryan Walk Again

My name is John Longstreth, and I’m reaching out on behalf of a family I love dearly.

Their son, Ryan, is going through something unimaginable—and they need our help.

Back in January, Ryan began feeling weakness in his legs. At first, they thought maybe it was something minor. But within days, he was struggling to walk. Then he started falling. It all happened so fast.

He was taken to UCLA Medical Center, where doctors diagnosed him with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)—a rare and serious autoimmune disorder where the body attacks its own nerves. It was devastating. One week he was walking… the next, he couldn’t move his legs.

Doctors administered four rounds of IVIG treatments to try and stop the damage. Ryan was discharged to an inpatient rehab facility to begin the process of learning how to walk again. But instead of improving, his condition worsened.

The weakness moved to his upper body and arms. He lost even more independence. Another round of IVIG didn’t help. Ryan was then readmitted to UCLA for plasmapheresis, a procedure that filters dangerous antibodies from the blood. After five days, he was sent back to rehab—but the progress just hasn’t come.

Ryan is now completely dependent on 24/7 care. He can’t walk, feed himself, or perform even the simplest tasks. His doctors now suspect CIDP—Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy—a rare, long-term version of GBS. They’ve said his case is “atypical,” partly because Ryan also lives with Type 1 diabetes, which makes his care and recovery more complex.

To say the family is heartbroken doesn’t begin to describe it. They’ve watched their vibrant son lose the ability to do the things we all take for granted. And through it all, Ryan has shown so much courage and strength.

The truth is, this journey has become financially overwhelming. The medical bills, therapies, rehab, and around-the-clock care are piling up—and not all of it is covered by insurance. His parents are doing everything they can, but they can’t do it alone.

So I’m asking—please help if you’re able.

Your donation will go directly toward:

• Ongoing medical treatments and therapies to give Ryan the best chance at recovery

• Specialized care and equipment to support his daily needs

• Rehabilitation and support services to help him regain movement and independence

Every dollar matters. Every share helps. And every bit of love and support means more than you know. If you are unable to donate, my ask is for all to send prayers to the Morris family as they fight to win this battle.

Ryan is a fighter. He has a long road ahead—but with the right care and community behind him, I believe he will walk again.

Thank you for reading, thank you for caring, and thank you for standing with Ryan and his family.

With hope and gratitude,

John Longstreth