Help Ryan Rebuild His Life After Stroke leading to Locked-In Syndrome

My brother Ryan had an pontine & cerebellar stroke caused by a vertebral artery dissection, which led to locked-in syndrome. Ryan was asked and had the choice if he wanted to continue and he chose life. After being intubated for a little over week Ryan made the choice to come off the oxygen and take his chances at breathing alone.

He did it and now we’re here, 6 months stay on the stroke ward at Whangarei hospital suffering “Locked In Syndrome” the next step is to be discharged into residential care, most intensive therapies will stop there. Strokes are not covered by disability in NZ meaning we have little to no funding to access to be able provide Ryan with proper rehabilitation after he leaves the hospital. Discharge at this point will be early next year, 2026.

Ryan needs funds to continue to heal, he has started making noises meaning the further we continue speech therapy the more likely he is to be able to speak again. He can move his arms, he can smile, move his neck from side to side and shake his head up and down; these are all things the doctors told us were impossible and wouldn’t happen. He is beating those odds.

Ryan has overcome so many adversities in life and now he is faced with the biggest battles yet, to learn to speak again, and to move his arms to regain independence.

To be able to support him we are asking for donations to provide better rehab and further care.

Ryan is determined to regain a life of independence, please help us in helping him.