Benjamin Ryan is a talented and funny young man who has never failed to inspire his therapists and fellow patients at Madonna with his hard work and huge heart.
In January of 2018, Benjamin was playing in a basketball tournament when he complained of a persistent headache. Doctors soon confirmed his parents’ worst nightmare: a malignant tumor growing at the base of his skull called medulloblastoma. Within just a few hours of his diagnosis, the 10-year-old underwent an emergency craniotomy at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha. The surgery was successful in removing the tumor. However, due to its large size, Benjamin’s brain incurred serious trauma and he developed a condition called Posterior Fossa Syndrome (PFS) that robbed him of much of his mobility.
Shortly after surgery, Benjamin began a long road to recovery while simultaneously battling the effects of radiation and chemotherapy.
Early on, aquatic therapy helped Benjamin relearn to walk. Specialized technology developed at Madonna called the ICARE helped him regain endurance and strength. The Armeo Spring, which incorporates virtual reality, increased his arm and hand control along with coordination. Vision and speech therapies coupled with school accommodations allowed Benjamin to head back to school in the fall, keeping up with school work and classmates thanks to real-time video technology.
With a motto of, “it’s easy to be grateful, but it’s hard to be satisfied,” Benjamin has overcome more hardship than other children his age should have to, but he has done it with fortitude. Along the way, he has kept the Madonna staff laughing with his clever wit and his fellow patients inspired with his positivity. He created art for the staff, brought treats to fellow patients and generally tried to brighten the halls of Madonna every day with his
big smile and kind heart.
Easter Sunday weekend marked 15 months after his diagnosis and an end to chemotherapy treatments. It also marked a milestone for Benjamin. He finally started feeling better. He headed to seventh grade alongside twin brother, Noah, in the fall of 2019 and is taking voice lessons to get back into music and theater.
“There are a lot of people holding your hand and over time you’re going to be able to let those hands go. But they’re ready to catch you when you fall. They’re ready to help you along the way,” Benjamin said.
“Cling to your faith and NEVER give up hope. Madonna is an incredible facility filled with caring and compassionate people who hold your hand through the most difficult times of your life. The brain’s ability to recover and rebuild is amazing and the people at Madonna understand that, even when you don’t,” Jayme Ryan, Benjamin’s mother, said. “In the beginning, it seemed like getting our Benjamin back would be impossible, but against all odds, he’s coming back!
Miracles happen every day at Madonna and now we have one of our very own!”
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