Ryan Fairbank Family Memorial Fund

Ryan Fairbank Family Memorial Fund

Fundraising for

Ryan Fairbank

Liz Andrew

Liz Andrew

Roulette, Pennsylvania

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On April 11, Ryan Fairbank, 44, was medevaced from the Olean, NY, emergency department to Buffalo General after a CT scan showed a large mass on his brain. Within days of arrival he underwent a right-side craniotomy to remove a lacrosse-ball-sized tumor from his parietal lobe. We soon learned the biopsy results: a very aggressive and deadly grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme. Ryan has been given approximately 12–16 months to live. He is currently residing in Derby, NY, to undergo daily radiation and chemotherapy treatments at Roswell Cancer Center, which will last through at least the end of June.

Unfortunately, even if treatment is successful, there is a 50/50 chance of recurrence within the first 1 to 2 years. Ryan’s wife, Keri, and two children, Kiersten and Kole, live over 2 hours away, in Pennsylvania. Keri is now the sole breadwinner in the family, so she must remain home to continue working. As her schedule and finances allow, she makes the long drive to and from Derby. This journey has already been a really long one for all of them, and for any of you who have experienced a similar situation in your own life or the life of someone you love, you understand the toll it takes, financially, physically, and emotionally.

In addition to this most recent diagnosis, Ryan has struggled with debilitating spine and leg pain for most of his adult life. After a traumatic spinal injury in 2008 that resulted in cauda equina syndrome, he suffered from severe chronic pain and underwent multiple major surgeries and dozens of procedures over the following 12 years. Just 18 months ago, Ryan was diagnosed with a severe case of lumbosacral adhesive arachnoiditis, a rare and incurable neuroinflammatory disease that causes severe to extreme intractable pain and a whole host of neurological symptoms, which masked some of those recently brought on by his brain cancer.

Ryan and his family need your financial help. The money raised not only will help pay immediate costs related to his cancer recovery, such as surgery, housing, nutritional needs, and travel, but also will enable Ryan to travel to an out-of-state facility that specializes in the treatment of adhesive arachnoiditis, giving him a chance to rehabilitate his body toward a more mobile, pain-free place. We all want Ryan to be able to continue doing the things that bring him joy in life: being a devoted husband and father, reading and researching in his humble home in rural Pennsylvania, working with the elderly at the local hospital, and practicing yoga. Any help will be received with love and gratitude.

Fundraiser Updates (3)

January 20, 2023
Liz Andrew
Liz Andrew

Ryan Matthew Fairbank passed away at his home in Roulette, Pennsylvania on January 06, 2023, just 3 days shy of his 45th birthday.  His family and friends are heartbroken.


Ryan was born January 9, 1978 to Eric Fairbank and Peggy Morgan in Easton, Maryland. In 1999 he met the love of his life, Keri Kulp; they married in 2001 and have 2 children, Kiersten and Kole.  They lived in Easton for a time before moving near Keri’s family in Roulette, Pennsylvania; AKA “God’s Country”.


After suffering a severe spinal injury in 2008, Ryan became a stay-at-home Dad and thrived in this job. In 2011 he took on the enormous and loving task of homeschooling their children.  This continued through their graduations in 2019 and 2021.  Ryan was most proud of his children and the people they have become with his guidance.


After they graduated, Ryan began working at UPMC Cole’s Skilled Nursing & Rehab Unit with elderly patients.  He planned their activities, read to them, or would simply sit and listen to stories of their lives.  The nurses tell how he would paint the ladies’ nails and do their hair.  His patience, compassion and love of history made him perfect for this work.  He loved his job and they all loved him.


On April 11, 2022 Ryan was diagnosed with brain cancer in the form of a grade 4 glioblastoma. From that day onward he shared his entire journey; diagnosis, treatments, and his thoughts on what was happening to him with his followers on Instagram (@lostinpottercounty) and Facebook. It was important for him to be transparent about this process.


Ryan was a down-to-earth family man.  Even with the kids grown, they all enjoyed movie nights and game nights together; summer nights around the fire pit telling stories, and their annual vacation to Sea Isle, New Jersey. Looking for treasures on the beach and playing mini-golf were some of the memories that stand out.


Part way through his cancer treatments Ryan learned he was going to be a grandfather.  He was over the moon and wanted more than anything to meet and hold his grandson. That wish was granted on November 14 when Oliver Ryan Thomas was born.  Before his passing Ryan was able to record himself reading some of his favorite books for Oliver. What a treasure.


Ryan was a kind, spiritual and open-minded man.  He was dedicated to his yoga and meditation practice, which helped him manage his chronic pain and come to terms with this terminal illness.  He was a voracious reader, often reading multiple books at the same time.  He loved bird watching and generally communing with nature.  He enjoyed long walks to the river where he’d spend hours with his dog Ruby and a good book. The family enjoyed their time at the river where they would search for beautiful little river rocks that Ryan would place among his collection of succulents. Before his diagnosis, Ryan completed a 7-day, 84-mile solo hike of the Susquehannock Trail System.  He said it was the most beautiful and transformative experience of his life.


Ryan is survived and sorely missed by his loving wife, Keri (Kulp); his 2 children, Kiersten and Kole; and his brand-new grandson, Oliver Ryan. Forever cherished by his mother, Peggy (Morgan) Andrew; father, Eric Fairbank and stepmom Lisa; his maternal grandfather, Thomas Morgan; and siblings Elizabeth “Liz” and Patrick Andrew.  His memory will live on with his numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and so many dear friends.


Ryan was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Robert and Shirley Lorraine “Rainey” Fairbank and his maternal grandmother Thelma Gertrude Morgan.


Services are still being planned at this time.


Contributions in memory of Ryan and in support of his family can be made here: http://spot.fund/HelpRyanOnHisCancerJourney


Due to Ryan’s inability to work after treatments began, Keri missing work to care for him, and mounting medical bills, they have fallen way behind on their obligations and are unable to make the budget on her single income. The family is looking for long term solutions. In the meantime, anything you can contribute to help out would be a huge blessing to the family. No amount is too small.  Bless you.


Condolences can be mailed to:


Keri Fairbank
163 Main St.
Roulette, PA 16746

November 17, 2022
Liz Andrew
Liz Andrew
I recently posted what you will read below on my social media feed. It was the two year anniversary of my Adhesive Arachnoiditis diagnosis, and so I shared the story of this diagnosis and how it later impacted the discovery of my brain tumor. 
 
I had been planning to update my Go Fund Me page, so I decided to share this same post, as many of the people who have donated or may donate in the future are likely unaware of this aspect of my health and disability. 
 
Today is the two year anniversary of my diagnosis of severe Lumbar-sacral Adhesive Arachnoiditis...if you are unaware, this is a rare and incurable neuroinflammatory disease which causes severe to extreme intractible pain and a whole host of neurological symptoms. It's considered one of two or three of the most painful chronic conditions known, and one of the leading causes of death among those who suffer from AA is suicide, if that tells you anything about the level of pain associated with it.
 
Unfortunately, since it's rare, there is little to no money devoted to research. Not only that, there are few physicians who know of the disease and people often suffer for years or decades without a diagnosis. Even with a diagnosis, few people find a physician who is able to help manage the pain and symptoms.
 
I was very fortunate to, by luck, get an appointment with Dr. Peter Gerszten MD, MPH ... the Peter E. Sheptak Professor of Neurological Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He in fact is quite well versed in AA and easily diagnosed me with a glance at my MRI. As a side note, I watched a four hour lecture made by an orthopedic spinal surgeon explaining how to identify AA on a MRI, and once you know what you're looking for, it's pretty damn obvious, at least with severe cases such as mine, where there is significant nerve root clumping and adhesions!
 
My first symptom was extreme pain in the area of my tailbone. I was unable to sit, even with a donut cushion, without being in extreme pain. This pain was ever present for 6-8 months prior to my diagnosis, and my PCP was beginning to worry that it was prostate cancer. During this time, I was training for my solo hike of the 84 mile Susquehannock Trail System, doing about 8 miles a day in the summer heat with my pack, all the while coping with this pain which was unlike anything I had experienced in the twelve years prior since my spinal injury, Cauda Equina Syndrome, and multiple major surgeries...it was absolutely excruciating! I too was starting to worry along with my PCP, and after rescheduling my backpacking trip multiple times, I decided that I better do it while I could! So, without knowing the cause of this pain and these symptoms, I solo hiked the 84 mile STS in 7 days, literally crawling into camp each night well after dark in unbelievable pain...and, it was one of the most beautiful and transformative experiences of my life!
 
So, I am one of the lucky ones who have been diagnosed, by both Dr. Gerszten and Dr. Tennant, who is the foremost authority on Adhesive Arachnoiditis. After my diagnosis, I opted for a second attempt at a spinal cord stimulator, as the tech had advanced significantly since my first SCS implant in 2009, and I'm glad I did! I opted for Medtronic and suffered through a C-Spine laminectomy to get the paddle lead option, which is far superior to the cylindrical lead.
Unfortunately, it wasn't until very recently that I convinced my PCP to use Dr. Tennant's first gen protocol to treat my AA, and literally two weeks later, after a very astute Ompthamologist who was concerned about my acute visual deficiencies advised me to go to the ED, at which point I was put at the head of the line for a CT scan under suspicion of a stroke and they found a mass on my right parietal lobe which was later determined to be a lacrosse ball sized Grade 4 Gliablastoma Multiforme...the most aggressive and deadly brain cancer known with few survivors outside of a year, and virtually none beyond 2 years.
It's likely that the neurological symptoms from the AA masked the brain cancer symptoms for a year, based on the size of my tumor, which begins microscopically and can double in size every month.
 
And the rest of the story is available here on my page which I welcome you to read. We are so very grateful for all who have donated to our campaign, as we simply would not have been able to survive without your generous and selfless gifts! Unfortunately, I am unable to work with my only income being my Social Security Disability Insurance, and Keri is having to work long swingshift hours and pick-up extra shifts and overtime whenever possible in a very labor intensive job. We have recently arrived at a point where we are barely making ends meet between paychecks and no clear idea of how to move forward, which is why we are asking for you to share this update with your network of friends and family and, if you are able, to donate to our campaign. My worry is that we are going to fall too far behind and when I pass, Keri will not only have a tremendous hole to try to climb out of, but will not be able to afford our mortage and will be forced to sell our home. 
 
Thank you all in advance for your help, and please remember, if you are unable to donate, please take a moment to share our Go Fund Me campaign link. 
July 17, 2022
Liz Andrew
Liz Andrew

I am now approximately three months out from my emergency craniotomy, and the time since my surgery has presented a whole new series of challenges, for myself and my family. I completed 31 sessions of radiation treatment at Roswell Cancer Treatment Center in Buffalo, NY and underwent chemotherapy for nearly that entire span of time as well but was forced to stop about a week short due to severe gastrointestinal side effects. 

Despite all that I have suffered through over the course of the past fourteen years since my traumatic spinal injury and diagnosis of severe lumbosacral Adhesive Arachnoiditis, I was not at all prepared for what I have endured since my chopper flight to Buffalo. I’ve sat down on multiple occasions to attempt to compose an update to this page and have found it incredibly difficult to do so, even as someone who enjoys writing. For me, this has been a spiritual journey from the very start, and one for which I have been able to completely surrender to since my diagnosis. Nevertheless, there are other aspects to this story…other people whose lives are being impacted, and will continue to be impacted in ways I cannot comprehend, and for long after I have left this body.

Unfortunately, our family, as so many others…maybe your own…were living paycheck to paycheck before we first heard the term Gliablastoma Multimforme and our lives were forever changed. Fortunately, we have been blessed with a tremendous outpouring of love from so many people! So many generous, and selfless financial donations which have kept our family afloat during the first few months of this crisis. 

Not only did I lose my income from UPMC Cole after approximately the second week of April, but Keri lost many weeks of income as well as she traveled back and forth to Buffalo to act as my caregiver and accompany me to appointments. There have been other unexpected obstacles along the way, such as significant repairs needed to our vehicle prior to the aforementioned travelling. These are just some examples of how we are being impacted financially, and now, my medical bills are beginning to roll-in of course.  

Also, unfortunately, we are only a fraction of the way towards our financial goal, and only the first few steps along this journey. One which will inevitably leave Keri without a partner and with a large gap in her monthly income. She will have to work tirelessly to just stay afloat and to keep from losing our home. 

The next step in this process for me is six months of maintenance chemotherapy. This is scheduled to begin once my Neurooncologist is able to bring my current symptoms under control: migraines, blurry vision, loss of appetite, general fatigue, etc. There are many other options on the table to help combat the GI side-effects of the chemo, and it will be imperative to have these existing side-effects resolved before starting any new medications. 

As I’ve mentioned in previous social media posts, prior to this crisis in our own life, it would be virtually impossible for Keri and I to step-up and donate to someone in a similar situation, and so we understand what we are asking you to do, nevertheless, I am again asking for your support. No amount is too small!

I want to close this update by thanking you all again. The network of supporters who have followed my journey on social media and have offered their constant encouragement and loving support and those of you who have so lovingly and selflessly donated financially...I don't know where we would be without you! Thank you so very much!!! 

Lorri Freitas
Eve Blackburn
Vincent Randy
JoandLisa Love
Terri Wachter Corley
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Liz Andrew

Liz Andrew is the organizer of this fundraiser

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