Ryan Fowler

If we're meeting, buy me a virtual coffee and all the funds go to the Stroke Foundation

It’s been an emotional journey to get to this point. I’m Ryan and after 5 years, I feel like it’s time to try and give back to help families currently going through the journey of a family member having a stroke. 

In 2017, my Dad suffered his first stroke, a minor one, however it put him in the hospital for 5 days. The first moment of shock is terrifying, especially if you get a phone call from a complete stranger calling on your Dads phone saying that she has found him in a mindless state collapsed on the side of a main road. That moment was one of the scariest I have ever faced, especially being just 22 years old and knowing that he had not long been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The first visit was 5 days in the hospital. It was after he was released that the real problems happened. The next day, I found him laying on the floor, after having a major stroke overnight, that started a 6-month journey of daily hospital visits, constant stress and emotional up’s and down’s that had more twists and turns than the worlds largest rollercoaster.

Support from family and friends is critical to help process the emotions that are happening, but not everyone has that. That’s why there is support for people struggling through this time like the Stroke Foundation that I am raising funds for. 

My Dad and I always had an incredibly special relationship and a bit of a sick sense of humour. A long running joke we always had was that I would wear a fluro pink suit to his funeral. Unfortunately, because of his strokes, I ended up wearing pink too soon. Although it wasn’t a full suit, a fluro pink tie marked the occasion. 

I told my Dad every day when I left the hospital that I loved him, he told me he loved me too and we both knew we truly meant it. The last memory I have was when he could no longer talk, laying there in the bed, able to hear me where I told him I loved him and that if he could hear me, to squeeze my hand and I would know he was saying he loved me too. 

This was the most trying time in my life to this point and one I hope to be able to help other families with that might be able to ease their pain and provide support to bring them through this journey. 

Please donate to support this journey and provide much needed support for families struggling through one of the hardest times of their lives.