Paying it forward for Ryan

This fund has been set up by two of Ryan’s coworkers. (Missy Williams and Michael DeLeon). We have been given a personal view into Ryan’s life through working with him and felt inspired to take action on his behalf.

 

In February of this year, Ryan was diagnosed with advanced Keratoconus, which is a progressive eye disease that could lead to corneal transplant or permanent vision loss. Ryan is a Case Manager for Encompass Health Services, which provides the sole income for his family of six. His wife Jennifer was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2019 rendering her unable to work. Anyone that knows Jennifer knows that she has been quick to give and serve others. Ryan covers the bases at home that she is unable to. This family faces many financial challenges as the progression of each of their diagnoses has caused mounting medical bills that are not covered by insurance and unplanned time off from work to attend necessary treatment, tests, and procedures.

 

Keratoconus occurs when your cornea — the clear, dome-shaped front surface of your eye — thins and gradually bulges outward into a cone shape. A cone-shaped cornea causes blurred vision and may cause sensitivity to light and glare. Keratoconus usually affects both eyes, though it often affects one eye more than the other. Ryan, unfortunately, was told that both eyes were affected which has caused progressive issues with completing tasks that we would normally take for granted. Short periods of time staring at a screen, or phone cause great distress leading to the unfortunate side effects that accompany this diagnosis.

 

Ryan has found an ophthalmologist that he trusts to complete the invasive procedure on both of his eyes. The cost of the procedure is approximately $6,500 per eye (this is including the consultation, eye scan, procedures, prescriptions, and contacts). As you can imagine this has led to a significant strain on his family both financially and mentally as he, his wife, and four children grapple to gain control of their situation and keep moving forward.

 

Ryan has shown his love for his community by showing up every day for those who have needed help. He has volunteered to help with local youth athletic leagues where he provides a positive influence on the children and community. He facilitates a local addiction support group for those who struggle with substance use. He supervises a church work crew for boys, instilling a great work ethic and preparing them for the workforce. His care and concern for the youth and adults in the community continue to make an impact on a daily basis.

 

We would like to show our appreciation and care to Ryan and his family by helping through financial donations. If you are unable to donate, please share a kind word about Ryan and his family in the comments section.

For those uncomfortable with using GoFundMe, feel free to send directly to Ryan's CashApp account ($RyanHammon).