Support Ryk's Road to Recovery

On Tuesday, May 21, Ryk was exiting the freeway to attend a doctor’s appointment. He was at a full stop at a red light with several cars in front of him. When he looked in his rearview mirror, a car that was traveling at a high velocity speed instantly crashed into the rear of his vehicle. The force of the impact flipped Ryk’s car upside down, ejected him from his seat into the back of the vehicle, and left him screaming for help from 911 before losing consciousness.

After being rushed to a local trauma center, we would learn that his injuries include extensive shoulder trauma and two broken humerus, five broken ribs (2 over his heart, 3 over his abdomen), one broken lumbar vertebrae, several thoracic hematomas, trauma to a cerebral artery that leaves him at risk for a stroke, and a severely bruised and beaten chest, face, head, and back.

For those that know and have followed Ryk’s passions over the years you will know that he cherishes the skills he has for sculpture, art, painting, makeup artistry, miniature figures, and so much more. One of the most devastating aspects of this accident for Ryk is the severe trauma to his dominant hand, his right hand, and his complete loss of mobility at the moment. The thought of not painting or sculpting again brings him to tears.

While Ryk is strong, determined, and steadfast in all that he sets out to do, we know that despite rehabilitation, he will live with the pain and trauma of these injuries for the rest of his life. We can’t predict the future, what healing looks like for his body, and how it will adapt to limited function, but this accident has been life-changing in so many ways.

With vital surgeries, extended hospitalization and rehabilitation, this is going to be a long journey toward recovery. As many know, Ryk has two young children, Apollo, age 6 and Willow, age 2 who are heartbroken for their daddy. Our family is hanging on by a thread to survive this disaster.

At the suggestion of friends and family, we have decided to open this fundraiser for a few reasons:

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to anyone who is able to give a donation, share our link, and keep our family in your prayers. We are taking each moment step by step and remain determined to work through this. Your help means the world to our little family ❤️