Ryan Jenkins’ Legacy & Awareness for FLC

With broken hearts, we share the passing of our beloved Ryan on Sunday, May 18, 2025 — a vibrant, brave, and endlessly kind young man who touched countless lives with his humor, heart, and strength.

If you’d like to learn more about Ryan’s life, his journey, and the legacy he leaves behind, please visit Ryan's Life Celebration website.

Diagnosed at only 15 with Fibrolamellar Carcinoma (FLC) — a rare 1-in-5-million liver cancer that affects children and young adults — Ryan faced this disease with unwavering faith and resilience. FLC has no proven treatment and no known cure, leaving patients vulnerable and families searching for hope in the unknown. Through every setback and every hard day, Ryan showed up with determination, compassion, and a quiet courage that inspired everyone around him. He was a warrior through and through.

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Ryan’s Legacy

Ryan pursued his dreams while bravely facing his disease. Just before the end of his freshman year of high school, he received his diagnosis — yet still completed his finals just days before undergoing not one, but two life-altering surgeries that summer, one of which required a five-week stay out of state.

He persevered through high school with a strong GPA, even as his senior year became his most difficult yet. He missed many of the typical milestones to focus on the fight for his life. He spent his 18th birthday in the ICU, but still found his smile as we celebrated with family and nurses before he was airlifted to UCLA the next day for more procedures.

He was excited to start at UC Riverside, determined to live on campus and experience college life in his own way — coming home on weekends and continuing infusion treatments every other Friday, barely recovering before driving back to campus on Sunday nights.

Ryan leaves behind a family who loves him beyond words — including his 16-year-old sister, who adored her big brother.

He was happiest with a soccer ball at his feet. He had a passion for the game since he could walk, and even continued to play club and high school soccer during the first two years of his battle. He was so proud of earning Defensive MVP his freshman year and the Coaches’ Choice Award his sophomore year with the University High School soccer team.

His laughter during late-night gaming sessions — usually Minecraft or Clash of Clans — will never be forgotten. He loved junk food and sweets, documentaries and silly comedies.

Independent and wise beyond his years, he invested in stocks and always planned for the future. At 17, he took a summer job at the local Albertsons “because that’s what young men are supposed to do,” he said. He was humble, never asked for much (except massages), and was grateful every day for the life he had and for growing up in Quail Hill, Irvine.

During his illness, Ryan often reflected on his purpose and chose a path to help others. A biology major, he hoped to become a nurse — and maybe even a doctor.

Fiercely competitive and an incredible negotiator, Ryan worked hard to be the best version of himself. He brought laughter, kindness, and silliness to his friends. We are so proud of our young man.

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How You Can Honor Ryan

As we grieve this profound loss, we also want to carry forward the way Ryan lived — with purpose, compassion, and a fierce desire to make things better for others.

While a portion of the funds raised will help with the immediate costs of Ryan’s funeral and memorial arrangements, the most significant portion will be donated to FibroFighters Foundation — an organization that walked alongside us during our most difficult days.

FibroFighters supported us in ways that words can’t fully express, offering resources and hope when we needed it most. They help patients and caregivers navigate this devastating diagnosis — one that even most doctors have never seen — and work in conjunction with local teams to find the best treatments for each unique fighter. They also hold the only international tumor board of its kind, offering access to perspectives from leading global experts.

Ryan was surrounded by love, strength, and faith through every step of his journey, and we want to honor his life by paying that forward to other families facing the same unimaginable battles.

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Thank you for helping us celebrate Ryan’s life, his legacy, and his impact — not only on our hearts, but on the world around him. Your contribution means more than we can say.

Ryan never gave up, and we won’t either. His hope, tenacity, and love for others will carry forward — and with your help, his impact will continue to grow.

With love and gratitude,

Ryan’s Family