Ryan Meyer

Welcome to our site for Ryan Meyer, son of Paul Meyer and Julie (Bauman) Meyer. We have created it to keep family and friends updated on our journey at St. Jude as he undergoes further treatment for his brain tumor (anaplastic astrocytoma). 



We appreciate your prayers and words of hope and encouragement during this time.  

Ryan's St. Jude story began last December, we knew something was wrong, but it took several visits to his pediatrician, with Paul, my mom, and myself trying to articulate just what the problem was- Ryan was having what we began calling "episodes", and to watch them, we knew they weren't right, but beyond that, didn't have any idea what was going on with him. 

Eventually, Ryan had one of these episodes while at a doctor's visit, and it was clear to the pediatrician that the cause was neurologic.  This was late January, and we quickly had an EEG and then an MRI, and learned that Ryan was having focal seizures which were being caused by a brain tumor. 

Ryan had surgery to remove the tumor on February 7, 2013 at the Children's Hospital in Peoria.  Ryan had a difficult recovery, and after about a week in the hospital, including a return trip for a virus, we came home and began working our way back into our normal routines.

We were surprised a few weeks later to learn that his tumor was in fact cancerous, and at that time we were referred to the St. Jude affiliate in Peoria.

We began monthly appointments at St. Jude, and while Ryan was being monitored by the doctors in Peoria, the doctors in Memphis were reviewing his case. We knew this was happening, but honestly, kind of forgot about it, it was merely a formality, and everyone was certain that the diagnosis would confirm the previous grade 2 diagnosis. 

On April 29, 2013, Paul received a call from our oncologist at St. Jude, asking that we come in right away.  We learned that his tumor was more aggressive (grade 3) than was originally diagnosed, and this would require a more aggressive treatment plan. 

This is where this journal begins. 

We will make our first trip to Memphis on Wednesday, May 1.  We will learn more once we get there and meet with the doctors, but we do know that Ryan will have another surgery to remove more tissue around the tumor area, and when he is able, following some recovery from the surgery, they will start chemotherapy. 

I have found that it is helpful to take some time and put down what exactly is going on, it is a helpful release, and seeing it on screen somehow seems to help me understand and begin to accept what is actually happening. 

I also hope to be able to share this with Ryan someday, and hope that it helps him understand what happened when he was so young.