16 years old
Likes to play video games
Honor-roll student
Cystic Fibrosis
At 10 months old, Ryan went to the doctor for unresolved pneumonia and ended up being referred to Children’s National Hospital and diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. By 11 years old, Ryan was then diagnosed with an enlarged spleen and liver damage as complications from Cystic Fibrosis. Ryan, now at 16 years old, wakes up every morning at 6am to start his daily routine of breathing treatments, nebulizer medication, and chest percussion therapy. He is required to take enzymes with every meal to help absorb nutrients, eat constantly to meet his daily needs of 4,000 calories, and take around 20 pills including antibiotics and medications to help with his liver damage. However , Ryan does not let his diagnosis define him! He’s an honor-roll student and he practices with a private basketball coach to prepare for team tryouts, and he likes spending time outdoors. He continues to push himself to 110% to make the most out of every day!
