Gregory Doucet
It was not until a routine visit to the paediatrician at a year-and-a-half old that led to the diagnosis that changed everything.
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At just five weeks old, Ryland was diagnosed with aqueductal stenosis, a blockage in the brain that makes him dependent on a shunt in his head to stay alive. Over the first two years of his life, Ryland’s shunt kept failing, resulting in countless trips to the emergency room. Now an active seven-year-old, Ryland shows no signs of slowing down. He takes medication twice a day to control his seizures, and he’s always happy to visit his friends at the hospital.
Ryland doesn’t let his mobility issue keep him from trying all kinds of different activities, and he is always commenting on how he’s going to get big strong muscles when he grows up. No matter what the situation is, Ryland is always happy, rarely complains and just goes with the flow.
Ryland is still learning about his medical condition. He knows that he needs to put sunscreen on his scars on his head, and he knows that sometimes his head hurts.
