In 2013, Ryan Brennan suffered two traumatic brain injuries on and off the rugby pitch. He was a Junior at St Bonaventure University at the time but the symptoms hit hard and forced him to dropout of school. Five years and over $100k in medical bills later, he’s still dealing with the debilitating side effects from this injury.
Ryan now suffers from severe visual disorientation and his eyes constantly struggle to stay steady. As he walks, his vision bounces with each step and his brain then struggles to refocus on whatever he was looking at. His depth perception and peripheral vision are also impaired. This makes observing moving objects for him a daunting task and often physically over-demanding. Couple this with his extreme sensitivity to light, and simple everyday tasks become over-stimulating and often lead to flare ups and worsening of symptoms. It’s heartbreaking to think of the pain and suffering he’s been enduring these past 5 years. He’s forced to decide between lying in bed all day in the dark or leaving the house to engage in some socialization; knowing that it will be a painful experience for him and one that he’ll pay for later. This leads to him spending most of his days lying idle in his house, avoiding stimulation. Nights he says are even worse; as he typically gets less than an hour of sleep each night, usually around 6-7am.
When people call, he puts on a strong face and waters down his symptoms as best he can. To an unsuspecting stranger, one might never know he’s in a constant state of pain. Given his circumstances, it’s amazing how positive and funny he can come off as. But to those that know him well, what remains of his overly-affectionate, outgoing and positive persona has been fading as the effects from this disease persist year after year. The truth is, his mental state has been crumbling and depression and anxiety have hijacked his everyday emotions. His life has been turned completely upside down and we’re all just keep praying that he can someday get back to a somewhat normal life again.
We’re hoping we’ve found a treatment that will do just that and this is where your help can make a profound difference in Ryan’s life! He's just been accepted into North Shore University Hospital's (Manhasset, NY) treatment program with a PoNS (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) Device that has been shown in trials to amplify the brain's ability to repair itself and improve day-to-day life for many of symptoms Ryan’s been suffering from. It’s a tongue-derived neuromodulation device that stimulates cranial nerves in tandem with physical and cognitive therapy to restore lost neurological function. More information about the device can be found here , here and here . The below video also demonstrates the type of treatment Ryan will be receiving.
Starting Monday 12/18, Ryan will start his treatment at the hospital for 2 weeks to undergo training with the PoNS device. Then they'll allow him to bring it back home for 5 weeks before following back up at North Shore Hospital. The whole treatment should last about 14 weeks. If all goes well… Ryan could make some huge strides towards getting his life back.
We’re hoping to raise $40,000 to help offset these medical and travel costs as well as help supplement any follow up treatments Ryan will most likely require. It’s been a very long 5 years for him and his family but the doctors seem confident, and we’re all extremely hopeful that this treatment can be a major step in getting his life back. Your donation can play a pivotal part in making this happen. Please help with whatever you can.
With hope and gratitude,
-The friends and family of Ryan Brennan
Ryan now suffers from severe visual disorientation and his eyes constantly struggle to stay steady. As he walks, his vision bounces with each step and his brain then struggles to refocus on whatever he was looking at. His depth perception and peripheral vision are also impaired. This makes observing moving objects for him a daunting task and often physically over-demanding. Couple this with his extreme sensitivity to light, and simple everyday tasks become over-stimulating and often lead to flare ups and worsening of symptoms. It’s heartbreaking to think of the pain and suffering he’s been enduring these past 5 years. He’s forced to decide between lying in bed all day in the dark or leaving the house to engage in some socialization; knowing that it will be a painful experience for him and one that he’ll pay for later. This leads to him spending most of his days lying idle in his house, avoiding stimulation. Nights he says are even worse; as he typically gets less than an hour of sleep each night, usually around 6-7am.
When people call, he puts on a strong face and waters down his symptoms as best he can. To an unsuspecting stranger, one might never know he’s in a constant state of pain. Given his circumstances, it’s amazing how positive and funny he can come off as. But to those that know him well, what remains of his overly-affectionate, outgoing and positive persona has been fading as the effects from this disease persist year after year. The truth is, his mental state has been crumbling and depression and anxiety have hijacked his everyday emotions. His life has been turned completely upside down and we’re all just keep praying that he can someday get back to a somewhat normal life again.
We’re hoping we’ve found a treatment that will do just that and this is where your help can make a profound difference in Ryan’s life! He's just been accepted into North Shore University Hospital's (Manhasset, NY) treatment program with a PoNS (Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator) Device that has been shown in trials to amplify the brain's ability to repair itself and improve day-to-day life for many of symptoms Ryan’s been suffering from. It’s a tongue-derived neuromodulation device that stimulates cranial nerves in tandem with physical and cognitive therapy to restore lost neurological function. More information about the device can be found here , here and here . The below video also demonstrates the type of treatment Ryan will be receiving.
Starting Monday 12/18, Ryan will start his treatment at the hospital for 2 weeks to undergo training with the PoNS device. Then they'll allow him to bring it back home for 5 weeks before following back up at North Shore Hospital. The whole treatment should last about 14 weeks. If all goes well… Ryan could make some huge strides towards getting his life back.
We’re hoping to raise $40,000 to help offset these medical and travel costs as well as help supplement any follow up treatments Ryan will most likely require. It’s been a very long 5 years for him and his family but the doctors seem confident, and we’re all extremely hopeful that this treatment can be a major step in getting his life back. Your donation can play a pivotal part in making this happen. Please help with whatever you can.
With hope and gratitude,
-The friends and family of Ryan Brennan
