Fighting cancer
Fifth-grader diagnosed three months after being adopted
BRUNSWICK, N.Y. » The community is invited to a Family Fun Day this weekend to benefit a local boy fighting to conquer cancer.
The Brunswick Elks Lodge will host the event from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday in its pavilion at 665 Brunswick Road. The fundraiser will feature food, music, games and other family activities. Admission is free, with food, beverages and game tickets available for purchase.
Proceeds will help Ryan Cowan and his family with medical and related costs as he battles leukemia. The fifth-grader at Tamarac Elementary School is described as helpful and caring, despite a difficult past. For most of his life, Ryan has been in and out of foster care, as have all nine of his biological siblings.
“His early years didn’t deal him a hand that was destined to result in a generosity of spirit,” a press release from the Elks stated. “Much of Ryan’s young life was a struggle, until he met Jen and Jim Cowan almost two years ago.”
The Cowans and their 14-yearold adopted daughter, Ashley, welcomed Ryan into their home a few years ago. At the time, they thought he would only be staying a couple of weeks, until a more permanent foster home could be found. After his first few weeks, though, “I decided I don’t do temporary,” Jen said, and they made the decision as a family that theirs would be Ryan’s forever home.
“Ryan is the most helpful boy,” Jen said, calling him a very loving person who always cares about other people’s feelings.
On Dec. 9, 2016, Ryan was legally adopted by the Cowans, but on March 15, he was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia and
started a round of chemotherapy immediately. Since then, Ryan has been in and out of Albany Medical Center. He’s embarked on a two-year treatment plan, with the goal of complete remission.
“It’s hectic, it’s crazy, but we’re doing okay,” Jen said.
Like any kid, Ryan doesn’t like being in the hospital, but for the past couple weeks, he’s been in good spirits, said Jen, who hopes he will be able to attend Family Fun Day.
Until a neighbor that’s a
member of the local Elks club reached out about a fundraiser, the Cowan family didn’t have a lot of outside help, Jen said. Money raised at Family Fun Day will allow Ryan’s family to be able to focus on caring for and supporting him while he recovers, instead of having to deal with the financial challenges long-term medical care and lost work hours create.
“Its an amazing feeling,” Jen said. “We are just truly blessed that people want to help us out. It’s amazing and overwhelming and just a delight.”
Jen also feels blessed that she adopted Ryan before
his diagnosis, as healthcare would have been complicated to navigate if he were still in foster care. Though it’s a tough time, Jen said she’s glad Ryan is surrounded by a loving family throughout the experience, rather than continuing to go through different foster homes.
“I am blessed that this waited until we adopted him, so he would have a loving family to go through this with,” she said.
Those unable to attend Sunday’s event can make a donation on Ryan’s GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/ryans-journey-for-a-cure.