Ryan López, 27 years old, is the son of our dear friend Hilcy and has been bravely battling cancer since March of last year. His journey began with a diagnosis of testicular cancer that had already spread to other parts of his body. After enduring rounds of chemotherapy, doctors discovered a new mass—a different type of cancer. Despite his courage, Ryan has faced heartbreaking setbacks, including the loss of feeling in one leg and double vision as the cancer spread to his brain. Through it all, his family has remained by his side, supporting him every step of the way.

Before he became ill, Ryan was attending school and pursuing his dream of becoming a chef. He has a real passion for cooking and baking, and his talent shines through in everything he creates. Ryan worked at Green Thumb Nursery in Canoga Park until he was too sick to continue. He was known for his skill in decorating, his love of fashion, and his kindness to everyone around him. Everyone who knows Ryan loves him, and his creativity and warmth have touched many lives.

Ryan’s mother Hilcy, who many of us know as a devoted night nanny, has spent over two decades caring for babies in our community. She was there for our families when our twins came home from the hospital. Hilcy also was a remarkable support to the parents she helped, her joy and kindness were a quiet assurance that we needed at a vulnerable time. Our children are now grown, and their success is in no small part thanks to the loving care they received from Hilcy in those early days. Even while raising her own three boys, Ryan, Asbel and Christian, she would leave our house in the early dawn hours to wake her children, cook for them, and drive them to a school farther away so they could receive a better education than what was available in their neighborhood. For years, she worked tirelessly for other families, always putting others first.

Hilcy’s husband, Ricardo, has been a truck driver with the same company for 25 years, providing steady support for their family. Because Hilcy has had to greatly reduce her work hours to care for Ryan, their family is now struggling with mounting medical bills and daily expenses.. Just a month ago, Ryan needed several ambulance trips to the hospital in a single week. It's been a difficult year for families like Hilcy's, and we only recently learned how deeply her family was struggling.

Any support you can offer will help ease the financial burden so that Hilcy, Ricardo, Asbel, Christian, and their family can continue providing the care Ryan needs. Thank you for reading Ryan's story and for any help--including sharing this GoFundMe--you can give. —With gratitude, Yumi Iwama & Tara Kelly