C/O The Homestead
Main Road
Filby
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR29 3HS
United Kingdom

NB: this is a forwarding address for the Pal, we do NOT disclose home addresses

Email Pal

Ryan H's Parents/Guardians

Gina and Graham

Ryan H's Siblings

Jason (12/10/90), Shaun (17/7/92) both like PS2, computer games, and playing on their mini dirt bikes together. Jasmin (21/4/02) Barbies, Bratz dolls, drawing and colouring. Anything pink and fluffy. Baby Annabell and Baby Born.

Ryan H's Interests

Swimming, cycling, football, computer games, PS2, Riding his dirt bike, army games, Lord of the Rings, Simpsons, his pet lizard, collecting keyrings and Top Trump cards. Bandanas, black or silver costume jewellery.

Ryan H's Favourite Colour

Blue

Is Ryan H able to read?

Yes

Is Ryan H able to use hands?

Yes

Is Ryan H visually/hearing impaired?

No

Does Ryan H suffer from any developmental delay?

No

Favourite type of post?

Postcards and letters

Religion?

CofE

Ryan's nickname is Ryry and he also has Asthma.

Story written 2005

Ryan was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was four weeks old. Medication and physiotherapy began straight away. Ryan kept fairly well as a baby and toddler, having only a few hospital admissions with chest infections. When he was 5 years old he had to have surgery for Intussusception (collapsed bowels), his appendix was also removed. His chest infections came more often so he had a chest port-a-cath inserted for easier intravenous access.

Abdominal and constipation pain continued and following a year of tests Ryan had more surgery a few years later. Adhesions from his bowel were removed, bowel rotated and his gall balder was removed. Due to a deterioration in his health a gastrostomy tube was fitted in his stomach for over night feeds.

Over the last 3 years Ryan has gone from strength to strength. He has begun to catch up with missed school work. In 2003 he won a Cystic Fibrosis award for showing real determination at fighting CF. Ryan now has IV’s every 3 months via his portacath.

He is a fantastic boy with a great smile and awesome sense of humour and loved a whole lot by his family.

Update 30th April 2008

At the moment Ryan is very poorly with a chest infection. He began his IVS last week after having a reaction to some oral antibiotics he was taking. He went back to school yesterday but was sent home after only a couple of hours. Today he has been sleeping most of the day, just waking for his treatments and a little bit of food. The antibiotics he is having are strong so they should kick in soon and hopefully we will see an improvement. At his clinic last month Ryan had lost weight so we are rather concerned about this too... I have blackmailed him saying that if he puts weight on he can have the new Grand Theft Autos game for his XBOX. I’m really hoping he is well enough for school next week as he has his SATS... but if not, then never mind, Ryan's health comes first. 

Thank you to the person from Israel that sent Ryan the jumper, it looks great! Thank you also to Julie for her continuing letters and gifts, Ryan really enjoys reading them all. Ryan was really pleased to receive the parcel from Post Pals... he says the keyrings were fab. Thank you for everyone who sent things to Jasmin for her birthday too, she was very pleased.

Update 27th February 2008

Ryan had his annual CF review last week and got a glowing report. His weight and height is up. Sat levels are high and his lung function was 98% which is excellent as his chest is colonised with 'Pseudomonas'. Even his liver function is normal now as he has fewer courses of IVS, which has allowed his liver to repair.

As for Ryan, he appears a lot happier, more confident and a cheeky teenager... with the odd grunt! He has chosen his career... when he leaves school he wishes to do graphics and design computer games and we will support him all the way! 

It’s still hard work caring for Ryan... endless amounts of drugs and physio to keep him well, but all his and our hard work is definitely paying off and we hope this continues.

Update 9th January 2008

Ryan managed to dodge the "Flu" that I and two of his siblings had leading up to and over Christmas which was a good thing (good job he’d had his Flu jab I think). He has a dry cough at the moment and is a bit wheezy but i think it is just down to the damp weather, but I will monitor him. His IV’s are due this month sometime and he has another appointment at the Teenage Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at the end of the month. We’re just hoping that this very good patch he is having continues through the winter months.

Ryan had a great birthday and we hardly see him now as he has an Xbox to add to his Computer, psp, Ps2 and Gameboy in his bedroom!! We had planned to have some of his mates sleep over but with the majority of his family in bed with flu we cancelled this. 

Thank you to everyone who sent Christmas Cards to Ryan, Jason, Shaun and Jasmin. Jasmin particularly loved the cards from each of the Reindeers with their special Christmas messages to her. She received the last one on New Years Eve from Rudolf. She had so much fun opening and reading them.

Thank you so much to the Elves Sarah Hine, Pete, Mady, Lewis and Jenna... your lovely gifts and kindness were very much welcomed. Special thanks to Kirsty A (a Post Pal) for Ryan's gift.

Update 14th December 2007

Ryan had his CF Clinic on 7th Dec. His weight and height has gone up so we are now allowed to drop another night feed. He is now having a litre of feed over 12 hours, 5 nights a week, which is great for Ryan as it gives him the weekend off.

Despite having Pseudomonas still growing in his lungs, his lung function was 100% so his body is coping well. We are very pleased with his progress indeed.

Don’t know how long this good patch will last, and of course Ryan is still having a lot of medication including antibiotics and nebulised drugs and his chest physio therapy 3 times a day... but it’s certainly going to be a very happy Christmas for us this year.

Update 3rd December 2007

Ryan has been doing really well. He is about to choose his options at school and is very excited that after this school year he can stop doing French and do subjects he is interested in e.g. Art, IT and Graphics!

The CF Nurse is coming to see him this afternoon as over the weekend he has developed a chesty cough… the first in quite a few months. So it’s probably a good thing that his regular Intravenous Antibiotics are due this month. He has CF Clinic this week too.

Ryan is really looking forward to his Birthday on 21st December and of course Christmas.

Thank you so much for Julie's continued support - Ryan really loves your letters and gifts. All the letters are in a special treasure box.

Update 1st October 2007

Ryan has just finished a course of Intravenous antibiotics. This time he had 2 weeks off school as he suffered side affects from the large doses. At present he is very well and already looking forward to Christmas and his birthday.

Update 30th July 2007

Ryan is doing very well. He got a glowing report from The Teenagers CF Clinic... his first visit to this Clinic. So good that we are hoping Ryan can miss next months course of IVS so his school holiday activities are not disrupted... just waiting on his cough swab results. Really hope this extremely good patch can continue for a bit longer, so fingers crossed. Ryan is enjoying the school holidays and the lie-ins!!

Ryan and all the family went to an air show last week arranged by The Starlight Foundation. It was a great day out and we are very privileged to have been invited. 

Update 4th June 2007

Ryan is currently on a course of IVS for Pseudomonas again. It’s a bit harder this time as we think his port is packing up... so his arm is a bit painful and he had to have the port accessed twice in 6 days. It’s likely he will need surgery for another port in the near future. At May's CF clinic Ryan had put on quite a bit of weight which is great... must be all that yummy chocolate he has been eating.

Ryan is in the 'grumpy teens' now… we get lots of grunts when talking to him. Think he is finding life in general a bit hard especially when his CF restricts him or I (mum) am over protective of him.

Thank you for the crocodile shortbread cooking kit... Ryan loved making it and also eating it.

Update 4th May 2007

Ryan had been doping really well up until this week. He has had to have few days off school as he was really unwell. We are going up the hospital this afternoon for a check up so fingers crossed all is ok.

Thank you Julie for your continued support. He really looks forward to receiving your cards, letters and gifts. All are in a special folder which he looks through very often.

Update 6th March 2007

Ryan has had a rough few weeks again and had last week of school. He slept for most of the week just waking for his pyhsio and medication. Poor boy was washed out. His chest was clear on examination by his consultant, but a cough swab was taken just in case.

Ryan has mild liver disease due to all the medication he is taking.

Update 5th February 2007

After a week of being poorly Ryan is now having a 2 week course of strong IVS. He didn’t really pick up from having his last course of IVS so his consultant decided to bring forward his regular IVS. Tomorrow is Ryan’s annual CF Audit so lots of tests - fingers crossed for him.

We have just had his Statement Review at his school, his teachers are so pleased with how well he copes with the demands of High School and his condition... he is a real inspiration!

Update 2nd January 2007

Ryan had flu just before Christmas which was a worry but he managed to avoid IVS. He was well enough to have 4 friends stay over for his 13th Birthday and had a great time. Christmas was quiet as my hubby and I both ended up with Flu so we were confined to the bedroom while the in-laws looked after the children... not a good way to spend Christmas.

Last term Ryan only managed about 2 weeks at school as he was too poorly with Pseudomonas which he still has but is not bothering him at the moment. Hoping this term is a healthier one for him.

Thank you to Julie for being Ryan's Elf and for sending the great gifts. Also thanks to Kay Ashton for her gifts to the boys.

Update 1st December 2006

Ryan returned to school on Monday after 3 weeks of IVS and Steroids. He is now doing a four day week at school having Fridays off to rest... hopefully this will help with his fatigue and enable him to fight off chest infections. It’s been a hard few months as Ryan’s eldest brother and little sister have also been ill with their asthma and as a family we are really looking forward to Christmas and some family time - with hopefully no IVS for Ryan over Christmas... so fingers crossed.

Sorry we haven’t replied to anyone personally for sending post to Ryan and his 3 siblings, I always plan to but never seem to get the time. But please except our heartfelt thanks you really do bring a smile to their faces.

Update 1st November 2006

Ryan is on another course of IVS and is off school again struggling with Pseudomonas. He has the most awful cough I’ve ever heard so it’s taken quite a hold of him now. The IVS will continue until he feels better. When Ryan goes back to school (probably in 2 weeks) he will be doing a 4 day week to help him get through the winter months.

Thank you for all the post and especially the watch, he loved it.

Update 16th October 2006

Spoke to soon I think! Ryan is off school today with headache, high temperature and chest pains... sputum test showed he still has Pseudomonas. He has started a course of oral antibiotics but it’s looking very likely he will need IVS again. This time I will keep him off school as he needs the rest. At the moment he is in bed and is very tired. Any messages, notes, cards etc would be nice to cheer him up.

Update 7th October 2006

Following Ryan’s last course of IVS he has had a great month. His chest remains clear and he has managed to put on a little weight. He saw his consultant at CF Clinic yesterday and he was very pleased with him.

Ryan started High School this month and he loves it. The school is very supportive and the transition has gone smoothly… Ryan has settled in well. It does help having Jason & Shaun there too.

Many thanks to Julie and her son for the letters, cards and presents - Ryan loves receiving them. Shaun loves the cards that Hwee Hoon sends him so thank you… they make a lovely colorful display on his bedroom wall.

Update 31st August 2006

Ryan is still struggling to shift Pseudomonas from his lungs. He is on another course of Intravenous antibiotics… not a very good end to his school holidays and next week he will have to start his new school with his Portacath accessed too. Ryan starts High School next Tuesday which he has been worried about… his two big brothers will be there as are 3 of his cousins so I’m sure he will be ok, I may not be on the day though… his little sister also starts school that day!!

Ryan continues to take everything in his stride though and we are really proud of him. He is a real inspiration.

Thank you to Julie and her son who continue to send letters and gifts. Ryan really loves receiving them.

Thank you Hwee Hoon for sending such lovely postcards to Shaun, they are all on display in his bedroom, he is really pleased with them.

Update 30th June 2006

Ryan has yet another chest infection. Today he started another 2 week course of Intravenous antibiotics - only 2 weeks after finishing his last course!!! So he is not too happy at the moment and needs lots of TLC this next month.

Update 31st May 2006

Ryan has been unwell again and is currently on another course of IVS for two strains of the dreaded Pseudomonas infection in his lungs. It’s half term and he is not too happy… the IVS take just under 2 hours in the morning and just over 30 minutes in the evening.

Lots of post would be nice to bring him back up again.

Update 30th March 2006

Ryan has finished his IVS and two recent cough swabs have been clear, so Ryan is very well for the time being. The Dnase is working as his lung function has improved. Also we had an agonizing wait for results from a Liver Scan this last week… got the results yesterday that his liver is normal. That was a huge relief for Ryan and us. Ryan is looking forward to the Easter holidays and no doubt lots of yummy Easter Eggs!!

Thank you to everyone who has written to Ryan it means a lot to see his smiley face. A special thank you to Julie for sending some lovely gifts and post to Ryan.

Update 2nd March 2006

Ryan is continuing his IVs. Three weeks this time, as the first IVs he was having were not resistant to the bug he had grown. He has been rather down lately and worrying about things a lot so he really needs some smiles this month.

Update 20th February 2006

Ryan has another chest infection and started a 14 day course of home IVS today. He is not too happy about this as it’s the school hols... so any extra smiles he receives this month will help!

Update 3rd February 2006

We have been overwhelmed by the cards Ryan received from CMPC Forum Rakers, all with lovely messages that really made Ryan smile this month. Thank you CMPC Forum Rakers.

Ryan is doing really well. We managed to avoid this months Intravenous Antibiotics. He has started on a nebulised drug called DNASE on a three month trial. Everything’s crossed that it improves his lungs! We just need to get a bit more weight on him now.

Update 9th January 2006

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday cards, Christmas cards and presents to Ryan. It’s so nice that so many people care. Special thanks also to Karen who was Ryan’s elf. He really loved all his presents – the beanie hat is permanently on his head! Thanks also to the children from Grafton Junior School as 29 handmade cards were sent by the children and all had lovely messages for Ryan.

Ryan’s auntie nominated him for a wish from the Starlight Foundation. He wished for a computer package. On the 17th December he went to PC World to receive not only a great computer/media center but also a chair and desk. Ryan is one happy young man and we are very thankful for his wish being granted.

Update 29th October 2005

Thank you so much for everyone’s good wishes, cards and presents while Ryan was in Hospital. It really meant a lot.

Update 19th October 2005

Just to let you know Ryan came out of hospital yesterday (18th). He has some weight to regain but appears a lot better.

Update 4th October 2005

Ryan has been admitted to hospital today as he still has a chest infection. He needs lots of intravenous antibiotics that I can't manage at home. He will be in for 2 weeks at least.

Update 15th September 2005

Ryan has a chest infection again but appears so well!