Alex's Adventure of A Lifetime

My name is Nicole Ryan. Some of you may have heard my story but most people may have not.

I had a brother. His name was Alex Ryan. My brother Alex was just 18 on the 1st of November 2015. He died on the 23rd of January 2016 from a synthetic drug overdose. He suffered irreversible brain damage and was brain dead. Standing tall at 6'7" it was hard to believe that he was gone.As a result of this I made the decision to make him an organ donor. We gave away his heart, liver and 2 kidneys so that he could save lives. And he did. 4 peope now benefited from his organs and as far as I know are all recovering very well.

There were many articles about this, you can read it here for yourself:
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/cork-party-drug-victim-alex-ryan-saved-four-lives-377947.html 

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/tributes-pour-tragic-teen-alex-7232796

You may wonder why I am telling you this?

I want to share and show to people not just here at home but all over the world, the kind of effect my brothers decision had. Alex was not a bad person. He was a kind hearted soul that would do anything for anyone. He made a bad decision and in turn paid for it with his life. I want to go out and share my story with others out there. I know there are people who have gone through the exact same circumstances and I want to give them a voice, share my story so maybe they can share theirs. Share Alex's story of how he was. His final moments and how I live now that he is no longer here. I want his story to be a warning to other people out there, especially young people who may consider taking drugs be it synthetic or not. If I can as much as change 1 persons mind with Alex's story,then for me that would be enough.

I plan to begin my travels soon along with my best friend Aoife. I plan on going to schools and colleges first all in Ireland and move over Europe and moving onto Asia, essentially as far and wide as I can to tell them of his story and give kids the information they need to not make the same mistake my brother did. I will document every single aspect of this journey and share each step I take with the world so they can see everything we're doing and hopefully follow us,feel and see what we see on this journey. I have gained alot of information from research that I have done on Sythetic Drugs.We plan to volunteer for projects and help anyone we can on the way.

The money raised I will donate some to both the Irish Heart Foundation and the Irish Organ Donation as well as the Irish Kidney Association

Today marks his 2 month anniversary and I have many many more months without him. There will be a mountain of experiences I will have to share without him for the rest of my life. He would have loved to travel and see the world experience different cultures and help other people. Alex has only been here for 18 years yet he managed to touch and change so many lives in that short space of time. I just want to do the same. In his name and in his honour. I want to share his story and mine.

Many people posted messages on his wall that moved me to tears:

Alexander Jay Baldwin Bai22 January · 

"Alex Ryan hey man. Really wish this wasn't good byes.
you have been one of the biggest influences on my life. We had our adventures and story's. When we first met we instantly got close, when I walked into the gaff we bonded over the fact of the same jacket and name. Ridiculously it couldn't have been a better way, it shows how friendly you were to all.
You help me in so many ways you couldn't imagine. You taught me to just enjoy life and don't let anyone or anything get in the way. Anxiety or boredom didn't exist when you were near. You always had everyone's back without a taught..
We your friends will have you in our memories till the very end.
Love you man."

‎Kim Tyther‎ to Alex Ryan
22 January · 
"You told me I'd have to "Be and Live Music" if I ever wanted to make it. Its advice I remember everyday. You were ammazing Alex in every respect. The world will not be as good as the one that had you in it. I love you and will miss you dearly. Goodnight my brother."

 
Brenda Petrassi22 January · 
To Alex Ryan,

"I'll never forget when I was busking on the street and you came and joined me, you rapped over a song that I was playing on guitar and it worked so well that we mentioned it most times we saw each other since then.

One of the most heartwarming memories I have of you was the 18th of January 2015, my birthday when I turned 21. I didn't have much interest in celebrating butTania had her birthday on the same day so we had a joint party at the gaff. I was sitting down while people were dancing, I felt so bored and my heart wasn't in it. But you started calling my name to the beat of the song. You chanted it with such vigor and admiration that I couldn't help but get up and join you. From then on I danced for ages and I gave you a big hug and thanked you for pulling me out of my stupor and supporting me to enjoy my birthday.

Strangely enough, I just partied with you again a few days before my birthday but I decided against celebrating it this year. You went into a coma on the day of my 22nd birthday which I had decided not to celebrate beforehand. I don't know if I will celebrate any more of my birthdays but I do feel there is significance in the timing of all of this...

Anyways I can interpret as much as I want, but what is most important are the memories. They are what keep you alive and what will continue to keep you alive in your friends, family and in me. These are only a few of the memories that I will make sure to retain as I get older and eventually join you. And when I do, I will be proud to recall so many of those moments as if they were yesterday, because you deserve that and it's everyones responsibility to keep you alive in the countless positive memories you've played a part in."


He was funny, loved to laugh and was a self thought musician
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXzxRgasnWk&feature=youtu.be

https://www.facebook.com/edward.j.stuart.3/videos/973071249406441/

https://www.facebook.com/etain.jones/videos/vb.100001050117717/823266914384971/?type=2&theater&notif_t=comment_mention

I ask you to donate anything you possibly can, if not then the only thing I ask is that you can share this story. I have so much more to share with everyone and so much more to tell.

Thank you for taking your time to read my story and thank you for your donation.

I can be contacted via Facebook at any time https://www.facebook.com/niccryan