Jessa’s Journey

On November 16th, Jessa Ryan, at just 27 years of age, unknowingly had a Grade 5 brain aneurysm that ruptured, caused her to have a stroke, and sent her into cardiac arrest. Luckily, Alyson and Steve were with her when it happened as 90% of people with this type of injury do not survive. She was rushed to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital where she was stabilized through lifesaving emergency care before being life flighted to Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience. Here she immediately underwent emergency surgery to resolve the aneurysm but suffered many complications that caused her to undergo several procedures, interventions, testing, and additional surgeries. Most days it was touch and go and the emotional roller coaster was excruciating for her family. Time and time again, Jessa’s amazing strength and resilience surprised her care team and enabled her to overcome so much. Through it all, her family never left her side. For almost 2 months, she remained on a ventilator. On January 22nd, finally able to be weaned from the vent, she was transferred to the Drucker Brain Injury Center at Jefferson Moss-McGee Rehabilitation. Unfortunately, just 12 days later, Jessa was readmitted to Jefferson. After receiving phenomenal care from her favorite North Side 8^th floor team, Jessa was transferred back to Drucker where she remains, awaiting the day she is discharged and back at home with her parents.  

Prior to the aneurysm, Jessa was living life to the fullest, cheering on her Eagles and working as a Personal Care Assistant at Robert K. Shafer Middle School where she is so loved that all of the students want to be under her care. With her sweet disposition, kind and loving heart, and great sense of humor, she is the “Sunshine” of her family’s life. Currently, Jessa is paralyzed and cannot speak. We all hope and pray that she will be able to regain some of her mobility, to once again be able to talk, and hopefully walk again. We miss Jessa’s voice so much! ?

So many of us who know, and love Jessa and her family feel so helpless. Alyson and Steve would never ask for assistance. In fact, they barely let us provide a meal. However, as we approach the 4-month mark, we know their financial burden will be great. They will need to remodel their home to make it handicap accessible as well as purchase a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. In addition to our prayers, love, and support, we realize we can help alleviate some of the costs beyond what insurance will cover. Please consider making even a small donation to Help Hope Live in honor of Jessa as your gift will make an immediate difference for the Ryan Family. Thank you so much for your generous support!