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Ryan, a 16-year-old boy from Woodbridge, Suffolk, was like many other teenagers who were celebrating the end of their GCSEs during the summer. Yet, following a diving accident in a swimming pool, Ryan’s life was altered forever. The incident caused him to suffer a severe spinal injury, leaving him with no movement below his waist. His mother’s friend, Kate Hayward-Brackenbury, was eager to help with the teenager’s recovery and has raised over £10,400.
Explaining the incident, Mrs Hayward-Brackenbury said: “Ryan was at a gathering at a friend’s house just enjoying the summer holidays, they’d finished their GCSEs in June, they were having fun. He dived into a swimming pool but unfortunately over-dived and sustained a very serious spinal injury.” The C3 spinal injury damaged Ryan’s neck, putting pressure on his spinal cord and causing various levels of mobility loss.
Ryan was rushed to the critical care unit at Ipswich Hospital where he slipped into a coma. Because of the impact on his spinal cord and nerves near the spinal cord, Ryan needed to be ventilated and have a tracheotomy. “The first three days were very hazy and then very quickly he was back as we know Ryan but without the mobility unfortunately from the waist down and limited by mobility in his arms and hands,” explained Mrs Hayward-Brackenbury.
Ryan has since moved on from the critical care unit and is now showing more mobility in his arms. However, he is still unable to move below his waist. The family is hoping that he will eventually be moved to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire, where there is a world-renowned spinal injuries center. To support Ryan’s recovery, Mrs Hayward-Brackenbury started a fundraising campaign called Run for Ryan, which began with her ultramarathon. The campaign has raised more than £10,400, which will cover Ryan’s rehabilitation needs, including hiring wheelchair-friendly travel when he comes out of the hospital.
Ryan remains very proactive and has stated that he will build his strength and fitness when he finally moves to Stoke Mandeville. Mrs Hayward-Brackenbury is grateful for the response to the fundraising campaign, calling it “staggering and amazing.” Ryan is determined to help others too and said that he would give any money left over to charity. “He wants to help others, and that attitude has really spurred people on,” added Mrs Hayward-Brackenbury
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