Ryans Biggest Fight

Out of the blue…it was literally, just out of the blue.  Ryan was experiencing a sense of fullness and tightness in his stomach.  This nagging feeling was with him for a week or two and he couldn’t shake it.  On Monday, March 2, 2020, he decided to stop at Newton-Wellesley Hospital on his way home from work.  That stop and the next 24 hours took a devastating turn for Ryan and his family.  

After being admitted to the hospital and a tortuous week of testing and waiting for results, Ryan was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) at 41 years old. While the prognosis is slightly better than some of the early concerns about his diagnosis, it is a rare and highly aggressive form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Out of the ~80,000 cases of Lymphoma diagnosed in the US each year, ONLY 1,200 of those turn out to be Burkitts.  Ryan's form is sporadic, i.e. random, and to quote Ryan’s doctor “shit luck”.   What is most concerning about this disease is that it can be insidious…sneaking into the central nervous system. 

Ryan will require one of the most intense and grueling chemotherapy treatments.   Ryan's oncologist recommended the toughest path, hoping it will provide the best possible outcome for him (and because he knew he was tough enough to handle it.).

Ryan’s has been through numerous tests and biopsies and his treatment has just begun.  Perhaps the most challenging part for both him and his family is that he will spend several days in the hospital for each round of treatments and due to COVID-19, he will spend those days without any family by his side.  This news has been the most devastating news the Gray family could have ever received.  This family has already been impacted in ways no one can imagine.  Ryan and Alicia are already fighting an uphill battle and have been faced with many challenges with their two young boys who both have special needs.  Mason (8) was diagnosed at an early age with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Brayden (7) who has been diagnosed and undiagnosed with too many medical issues to list.  Brayden himself has been in and out of the hospital with surgeries and appointments since the age of 3 months to the point they no longer keep count.  

Ryan, and of course Alicia, are Brayden’s and Mason’s biggest supporters.  Brayden, unable to walk on his own, often utilizes a wheelchair and seeks the help of his dad Ryan…his hero.  Ryan is the dad who always ensures his children can participate in activities just as any typical child could.  Whether that means holding him up to miniature golf, helping him shoot a basketball, or swim in the ocean on a boogie board, run and slide into home base, to Brayden and Mason, Ryan IS their hero! But right now, Ryan the dad, the hero, the husband is going to just have to be Ryan.  He will be unable to work during this fight of fights and will need to take the time for treatments and recovery. 

That means the Gray Family’s whole world is now focused on #Ryansbiggestfight. 

For those of you who know Ryan, you know what a good person he is.  He brings so much laughter, love, joy and loyalty to his family and all those around him.   For those of you who don’t know him, please learn more by following his journey at caringbridge.org/visit/ryansbiggestfight

Please keep Ryan, Alicia, Mason and Brayden in your thoughts and prayers.  Also, we ask you to join us in supporting Ryan through this battle.  Please consider a donation today to allow Ryan the time to focus on his treatment and recovery and to offset the ever growing medical costs and other expenses while Ryan is out of work.  Any, and all donations are greatly appreciated and will go directly to the Gray Family.