Hi, my name is Ryan, and I’m asking for help after a sudden medical emergency and a cancer diagnosis turned my family’s life upside down.
In late 2024, doctors found a mass in my colon that was blocking my bowel and was suspected to be cancer. Because I didn’t have insurance, I wasn’t able to complete the testing right away.
By the end of April 2025, the blockage became severe, and I was hospitalized. On April 30, 2025, I was admitted to the hospital to prepare for a colonoscopy. Later that night, after starting the bowel prep, I experienced sudden, unbearable abdominal pain. I returned to the emergency room, where doctors discovered that my colon had ruptured. (This is a life‑threatening emergency that can quickly lead to severe infection.)
I was rushed into emergency surgery in the early hours of May 1, 2025. Surgeons had to perform a total colectomy, meaning my entire colon was removed, and they created a permanent ileostomy.
This saved my life, but it also permanently changed it.
I remained hospitalized until May 5, 2025, recovering from major abdominal surgery. I was discharged with strict physical limitations, ongoing wound and ostomy care needs, and multiple follow‑up appointments. Shortly after, my condition was officially documented as colon cancer, and my doctors confirmed that I need to begin chemotherapy. Due to surgery, cancer treatment, and chemotherapy side effects like fatigue and nausea, I am currently unable to work, and doctors expect this to last the rest of my life.
How This Has Affected My Life
*Currently our family is homeless due to treatment
* I now live with a permanent ostomy, which requires constant medical supplies
* I am undergoing chemotherapy and ongoing cancer care
* I cannot work due to medical restrictions and treatment side effects
* I have frequent medical appointments and recovery needs
This situation wasn’t caused by a lack of effort—it was the result of delayed care due to financial barriers, followed by a sudden medical crisis that couldn’t be avoided.
How Donations Will Help
-Funds raised will go directly toward basic, necessary expenses during my recovery and cancer treatment: Expenses include -Ostomy supplies Bags, barriers, skin care, and cleaning supplies (ongoing monthly cost) Cancer treatment & chemotherapy Oncology visits, labs, medications, and travel, Pain control, anti‑nausea medication, antibiotics, and supplements needed for healing, -Living expenses (Rent, utilities, and transportation while unable to work) and future medical care with additional treatment or complications related to the cancer.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps reduce the stress of choosing between medical care and basic living needs. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page means just as much. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can offer during this incredibly difficult chapter. Your kindness truly helps me and my family to focus on healing and moving forward. — Ryan
In late 2024, doctors found a mass in my colon that was blocking my bowel and was suspected to be cancer. Because I didn’t have insurance, I wasn’t able to complete the testing right away.
By the end of April 2025, the blockage became severe, and I was hospitalized. On April 30, 2025, I was admitted to the hospital to prepare for a colonoscopy. Later that night, after starting the bowel prep, I experienced sudden, unbearable abdominal pain. I returned to the emergency room, where doctors discovered that my colon had ruptured. (This is a life‑threatening emergency that can quickly lead to severe infection.)
I was rushed into emergency surgery in the early hours of May 1, 2025. Surgeons had to perform a total colectomy, meaning my entire colon was removed, and they created a permanent ileostomy.
This saved my life, but it also permanently changed it.
I remained hospitalized until May 5, 2025, recovering from major abdominal surgery. I was discharged with strict physical limitations, ongoing wound and ostomy care needs, and multiple follow‑up appointments. Shortly after, my condition was officially documented as colon cancer, and my doctors confirmed that I need to begin chemotherapy. Due to surgery, cancer treatment, and chemotherapy side effects like fatigue and nausea, I am currently unable to work, and doctors expect this to last the rest of my life.
How This Has Affected My Life
*Currently our family is homeless due to treatment
* I now live with a permanent ostomy, which requires constant medical supplies
* I am undergoing chemotherapy and ongoing cancer care
* I cannot work due to medical restrictions and treatment side effects
* I have frequent medical appointments and recovery needs
This situation wasn’t caused by a lack of effort—it was the result of delayed care due to financial barriers, followed by a sudden medical crisis that couldn’t be avoided.
How Donations Will Help
-Funds raised will go directly toward basic, necessary expenses during my recovery and cancer treatment: Expenses include -Ostomy supplies Bags, barriers, skin care, and cleaning supplies (ongoing monthly cost) Cancer treatment & chemotherapy Oncology visits, labs, medications, and travel, Pain control, anti‑nausea medication, antibiotics, and supplements needed for healing, -Living expenses (Rent, utilities, and transportation while unable to work) and future medical care with additional treatment or complications related to the cancer.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps reduce the stress of choosing between medical care and basic living needs. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this page means just as much. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can offer during this incredibly difficult chapter. Your kindness truly helps me and my family to focus on healing and moving forward. — Ryan
Organizer
