The Ryan Family, Saratoga Springs NY

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Chandra Rung, and I have spent the last 7 years getting to know the Ryan family as a friend and neighbor. As many of you may already know on Thursday, February 29, the Ryan’s world was flipped on its axis.

Amy started her day like anyone else, and woke to get her two girls off to school. But very quickly Amy would be face to face with a life altering situation. Amy was about to find out that her 45 year old, vegan, marathon training, husband had suffered a major stroke in the middle of the night.

Jim Ryan’s Wednesday was not much different than everyone else. He went to work at his home office, he ran a few miles in preparation for the marathon he challenged himself to complete in the coming year. Being the head cook and baker of the family, he whipped up a delicious vegan dinner for his favorite girls - wife Amy, eldest daughter Zoe and his blue eyed, hopelessly devoted, Teagan. After dinner he was feeling off, and Amy thought maybe he was getting sick, so she took the couch in the hope that a good nights rest would make all the difference for him. Unfortunately, rest was not his friend.

On Thursday morning as Amy hustled about getting their eldest off to 7th grade and taking the early shift, Jim was suffering from a major stroke that would alter the trajectory of their lives in ways that are not yet fully known or understood.

In the coming days our community and the lives of all those connected to Jim have been rocked, but none so much as his 3 beloved girls. In the blink of an eye this family has lost their center.

Jim is currently in the ICU of Albany Medical Center where he is under the care of some of the regions best neuro experts available. According to his care team, Jim is looking at a very long, intense journey, with rehab and an unknown outcome, and his family is going to need the love and support of their community to get through this devastating time.

For those of you who know Jim, you probably already have a story or conversation or a reason you feel his loss, that is personal to you. For me, it was Jim’s personality. From the first time I met him he was friendly and warm and easy going. He was not afraid to have a conversation; a REAL conversation, about feelings and struggles and he shared his world and emotions and he always made space for mine. I already miss his voice from across the way saying “Hey neighbor” as he tended to his many activities around the house.

For those of you who don’t have a personal story, or haven't had the pleasure of knowing him personally, I would like to tell you a little bit about the man I came to know over the last 7 years.

Jim Ryan is a man of life, of action. He is a learner and a doer, not just a talker. Raised in a loving, nurturing home outside of Philadelphia, he is a die-hard Eagles fan, a PA boy through and through. The youngest of 3 devoted brothers, he took the time and 4 hour drive back to his roots as much as life allowed. He came back to Saratoga with a full heart and restored soul, and maybe a pint or two of mead, as he shared his fermenting skills with his older brother.

When not tending to his landscaping or repairing his porch, he can be found tending to his home brew or baking a cake with his daughters or practicing piano, or guitar, or drums, or learning about whatever topic has gained his interest that day. If you couldn't see him out front, maybe he was tending to the vegetable garden out back, planning where to put his future home grown hops or just opening his house and yard to his many friends and neighbors, who felt welcome at all times of the day or night. Jim was always up for a beer and some conversation with a full array of Phish classics in the background. Dart leagues, games nights, tennis, skiing, snowboarding - if you have been to Gore you may recognize his bright red pants before you recognize his name. Jim loves life and his friends and his family and his life is a reflection of the everyday joys he took in whatever was in front of him. He is ready to try something new or help you move a piece of furniture or raise a garage wall or keep you company on the bike trails. He is so full of life and he deserves every chance to get back to it.

Jim’s wife, Amy, has been tirelessly by his side since the moment the ambulance arrived at the Albany Medical Center. Driving 45 min each way, every day, she doesn’t leave the house without taking the time to “look nice for him in case he opens his eyes”. Amy battles endlessly trying to be in two places at once for all her special people. While at the hospital, she plays an eclectic mix of music by his bedside, reads books to him, and practices the PT she was taught to keep his body from succumbing to hours of inactivity. All while managing their daughter’s busy activities schedule of friends, sports scouts, drama and music lessons (sounds like the apple and the tree), while also trying to keep up with her role at the new job she just started in January.

Their world has been turned upside down, and these girls are fighting for their dad, their best friend, their father and husband.

I am asking you to help him get back to it. Jim is always there when you need a strong back to move an armoire or an egg for a recipe or just a laugh and a good listener. Jim is the type of friend and neighbor who would give you what he had and he would probably do it with a smile. I am asking that you help his girls on this journey to get Jim back to it. The world needs more Jim’s. More people who say what can I do and not what’s in it for me.

So please, if you have it to give, please help support the Ryan family on this journey of healing and recovery. Jim deserves every chance we can give to get back to it.