Hometown Hero Needs Our Help

“While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms.” ~ Randy Neugebauer

Howell Resident Ryan Connell

I don’t know about you Howell, but I’m tired of writing about snow and how Mother Nature needs to give being The Ice Queen a rest.  Instead I want to focus our attention on another Howell resident that needs our help, Ryan Connell.  Ryan is a 27-year-old Veteran who served in Iraq from 2008-2012; he returned home with a plan to become a History Teacher, and headaches he thought would go away on their own.      

After moving to Clementon to finish his education at Rowan University, Ryan suffered a grand mal seizure and was taken to the hospital where they discovered a mass.  After a craniotomy Ryan received devastating news: He had Stage 4 Glioblastoma, it’s the most rapid growing form of brain cancer.  Ryan has been fighting for the past year and has been winning!  However, new masses have formed in an area of his brain that are affecting his speech and concentration, and will cause more harm than good if the doctors operate.

But there’s always hope …

Duke University Hospital in North Carolina is running a successful clinical trial that will help cure Ryan’s cancer and put him back into remission.  He needs our help with raising medical and traveling expenses since he was dropped from his father’s health insurance after turning 27, and has yet to receive his Military Benefits due to his “Pending Medical Discharge From The Military.”

All Veterans of War deserve our praise and support, but Ryan is one of our own, anyone who can donate please visit his website here.  If you’re not in a position to give financially, then please Share this post and his website on your personal Social Media Outlets to spread the awareness and to reach people who can help send Ryan to North Carolina. 

As always, thank you for reading Howell.  Please share this post and help our Hometown Hero.