Edmonton’s Ryan King never say’s never

Edmonton’s Ryan King, Never say’s never.

“One Team, One Family” That’s the quote the Edmonton Eagles go by, and the team has remembered that through the tough times of one player, 17 year old Ryan King
(Born February 27th).

Now Ryan’s dream is to be a professional football player, nicknamed the Gentle Giant. “Giant” because he is 6’3″ and 250lbs, “Gentle” because he would sit and watch Dora with his cousin for hours at a time to make her happy. Ryan started playing football in grade 10 and when he was not playing for the Edmonton Eagles, Ryan tore up the field for his other team, the O’Leary Spartans, now playing for two teams, anyone could imagine how much Ryan loved Football.

“Fumbled”
Ryan’s dream to play came to a crashing stop in early April of 2011, Ryan had come down with flu like symptoms, after seeing the doctor, Ryan was sent home from the north east care centre with a viral flu. No big deal right? Wrong! On Friday April 2nd Ryan’s Family called an ambulance at 2am because they heard banging through the wall, upon going into Ryan’s room, they saw that Ryan was thrashing around. The ambulance came and it took 6 firefighters to get Ryan into the ambulance, where he was rushed to the Hospital by 6am Ryan was placed on life support, where he slipped into a coma and didn’t regain consciousness for five weeks. During that time the family was given very little hope on his survival.

“Staying strong”
When this happened to Ryan his family and friends banded together and stayed strong, some families might of fallen apart, not this incredible family, especially Ryan, he has been the families leader with his amazing sense of humor and his strong sense of hope, Ryan was not one to mope around and feel sorry for himself, which made his family and him so brave. Ryan knows what he wants, he wants to get better and play football again. At a practise for The Edmonton Eagles The Coaches told me that Ryan would sign on his Moms hand” I just want to hit again”.

“Hospital Visits and Medical Mysteries”
All Ryan’s family and friends prayed, and Ryan proved to be a fighter. When he finally did come out of the coma, swelling of the brain and spine had left Ryan unable to breathe, speak, hear or move. For 38 days Ryan stayed in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Only his family, close friends, his coaches, Graeme Bell, Ricky Ray and Aaron Fiacconi from The Edmonton Eskimos, were in to visit him, which made missing school and his friends a little bit easier. The doctors had many possible and probable diagnoses, but nothing that they could rule in for sure, and to this day Ryan is seeming to be the only person in the world to of had this happen, his chart is worldwide in the medical community as he is a true mystery.

“Home Changes and an Aunt’s Way to Help”
When Ryan was finally ready to come home, His family moved from a two-level townhouse to a bungalow, to make it easier for Ryan to Move around in his wheelChair, but still they needed to install ramps, track system, widen doorways and get a new vehicle with enough room. To help pay for all the Renovations Ryan’s Aunt Nanette began “Rainbows for Ryan” a Fundraiser for Ryan selling crocheted bracelets. Ryan, too has helped by making red and blue bracelets ,another activity that has helped with his rehabilitation. Ryan’s family even started their own Facebook page to sell the bracelets, and people’s responses have been phenomenal. Lots of prayers and support, They have 922 likes on the page, people that don’t even know Ryan have opened there hearts for this incredible Kid.

“Can’t play football, but is there in spirit”
Ryan was not able to play football in 2011, but his spirit was carried every practice, and every game, with his jersey #60 on all his team-mates helmets, the Edmonton Eagles dedicated each and every game to Ryan, each of the players playing there hardest for him. So even though Ryan was not among the players in physical form he was with everyone of them, in there hearts.

At the year end banquet, Ryan was awarded The “RYAN KING AWARD” This award was made by the coaches just for Ryan, to prove that Ryan WAS and ALWAYS WILL BE an Edmonton Eagle.

“Constantly Adapting and Learning”
Ryan has day passes for the Glenrose Hospital and Ryan and his family hope to have him home by the end of April. For Ryan’s family to talk to him they will sign on his hand, but he will answer them by talking. When Ryan first checked into the Glenrose, he couldn’t sit by himself, or drink from a straw. I’m happy to report that Ryan has made remarkable improvements, Though he is not 100%, he went from being deaf, blind and paralyzed, to learning the deaf blind signs on his hand, moving his legs, and of course keeping up his incredible sense of humour. He can also sit by himself for a short time, shuffle around and has even learned braille.

“Up close and personal”
I got the wonderful opportunity to chat with Ryan’s aunt Nanette where I learned even more about Ryan, as soon as he was well enough Ryan insisted on showing up to his O’leary Spartans team to show support for his team mates. I also got the incredible honor of speaking with Ryan and his Mother Bobbie as well, I got Ryan’s views on everything that has happened, I also learnt more about him and what kept him strong. Ryan also told me the special Nicknames the Coaches gave him, Coach Mike Ko would call him O’LEARY after His highschool, and Coach Mike Rowe called him the ONE HIT WONDER. Those were the things that Ryan remembered, just simple words that made a world of difference.

“Never say never”
From the Doctor’s point of view they are saying that Ryan will be like this for the rest of his life, but in his families eyes, they and Ryan believe he will one day regain, everything “the biggest thing were doing is believing and keeping hope and faith” were the words from Nanette. Never say never anything is possible, we as a family have never given up hope and we never will, and Ryan will fight, he is strong. One of My favorite quotes is “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning to dance in the rain”, even though Ryan never asked for this to happen, he has made the best of the path god has laid out for him.

“Being an Inspiration”
Ryan’s story has moved so many people and will continue to inspire everyone all ages, Ryan and his family need all the support they can get, because Ryan is blind, deaf and paraplegic, there really is no facilities that offer help for all three, say a camp for the blind, because Ryan is deaf, he would not be able to go to a camp like that, that’s why every little bit you offer helps. If you want to buy a bracelet and help Ryan go to “Rainbows for Ryan”on Facebook. There is still so much you can do for Ryan. Out of sight out of mind, is the term Nanette used while talking to Me, there was lots of buzz about Ryan in June 2011 when his story was aired on global, but there is still so much we can do to help Ryan, I think a lot of people take things for granted until you lose something or someone you love, or you hear about a person like Ryan, just a normal 17 year old with a dream to play football, and then something like this changes his life forever, every thought, every prayer counts, and every person who has helped Ryan by buying a bracelet sharing quotes and photos on Facebook, visiting him, dedicating every game and practise to him, and praying for him should be very proud, it might not seem like much your doing, but everything and everyone is important in Ryan and his families eyes.