On the morning of Saturday, December 13th, Ryan (35), suffered a sudden aortic dissection — a rare and life-threatening heart emergency. He was rushed into surgery, and doctors told us there was less than a 20% chance he would survive. Against all odds, Ryan made it through, and he is now in the ICU, fighting every day to recover.

The road ahead for Ryan will be a long and uncertain one. He faces healing and rehabilitation before he can get back on his feet. In the meantime, the funds we raise will help cover his rent, utilities, medical bills, and any other essential and unforeseen expenses that might arise while he focuses on recovery.

If you know Ryan, you know he’s one of the most shy, funny, and genuine people you’ll ever meet. He’s a talented musician who deeply loves his friends and family. He's been there for so many of us, and this is our opportunity to be there for him.

Any donation will make a huge difference. Even if you can’t contribute financially, sharing this campaign or sending encouragement and prayers means the world to us and to Ryan.

Thank you for reading Ryan’s story and for supporting him through this incredibly tough time.

Update: 6/22/2026

Since Ryan's initial surgery, he's had some good and some bad days while bouncing from specialist to specialist for health issues resulting from his aortic dissection. Unbeknownst to him and the rest of the family, his heart has a ticking time bomb.

After having to cut a music gig short due to severe chest pain on June 6th, Ryan landed himself in the Cardiac ICU at SLU again. He had to have his descending aorta reconstructed and will have a pacemaker placed. It's unclear at this time how long he will remain in the hospital but he is stepping toward another road to recovery.