Ryan Pinney

Ryan’s Journey … From a Mother’s Heart

When it comes to your children, it seems like things frequently bring one to tears: tears of happiness when your son stops to pluck a marigold from the bush outside the front door and hands it to you with most of the petals missing, tears of joy when he returns from an overseas air force mission, and tears of anguish when learning of a terrible accident that has broken his body.

My son Ryan grew up in Phoenix and graduated from Horizon High School. He joined the air force and became a boom operator for the Arizona National Guard. Engaged to Meagan Novak, they are planning their life together, even as that life is looking a little different than before.

When many of us demonstrated shock and dismay at the July 15 accident, Ryan himself taught us to stay strong and know that God is in control and is taking him on a road he would not have otherwise traveled. Ryan is a strong man physically, mentally and spiritually. As a marathon runner, he knew the importance of preparing for the race many months in advance, to prepare his body and mind so he would finish the race in personal record time (and to beat his dad to the finish line). He ran miles and miles in the Arizona sun and was disciplined in every workout he committed to. As we all have experienced while watching Ryan in therapy, for him this workout is no different. This is a different kind of marathon but Ryan knows that the Lord will reveal His plan for him at every milestone.

I am truly blessed to be this incredible man’s mother and even more blessed to walk with him on Ryan’s Journey. There is room for us all to participate in his recovery. The uninsured medical costs for spinal cord injuries are overwhelming, from reconstructing the home to make it accessible to the expense of specialized equipment for Ryan to help him recover, increase strength, mobility and independence.

To help with the cost of these uninsured medical expenses and recovery–based therapies, a fundraising campaign in Ryan’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF), a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. In 2000, they expanded their mission to include those who have sustained a catastrophic injury. All contributions are tax deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the Southwest Spinal Cord Injury Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for injury-related expenses only. Your donation is greatly appreciated.Ryan is one of God’s masterpieces that He is continuing to mold into one that glorifies and reflects the nature of God. You and I have a front row seat.

Thank you for your prayers, good wishes and generosity.

Frankie Mae
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