Ryan Kirkby WAG Fundraiser

Ryan Tyler Kirkby had a contagious laugh and a sophisticated sense of humor with a heavy reliance on sarcasm and comedic timing. He loved music with meaningful lyrics (Imagine Dragons was his favorite band), chess, reading, swimming, and his friends. Ryan was known for his insightful and sometimes cheeky remarks and his HUGE LOVE of animals (3 cats and hundreds of stuffies for whom he cared were meticulously catalogued by name, birth date, photo and occupation in his iPad contact list, requiring special birthday desserts with little notice). Ryan dreamt of becoming a veterinarian but soon after his DIPG biopsy/diagnosis in December 2022, he could no longer attend his cherished school (SSSAS) and instead watched YouTube and played Roblox as best he could with one working hand.

An only child, Ryan’s constant companion was his stuffy, Foxy. Their adventurous spirits drove them to explore new foods, experiences, 4 countries, and 25 states together. Ryan fought DIPG for 18 months with Foxy by his side- Foxy had MRIs, his own AFOs, and was regularly caught giving himself medical assessments, messing with computers, and using hospital equipment. Once Ryan was confined to a wheelchair, Foxy and his gang formed Ryan’s Warrior Animal Guard (WAG) to guard against scary things.

Ryan, age 9, passed away on June 13, 2024, leaving a Ryan-sized hole in our hearts. Ryan continues fighting through his post-mortem tumor donation… and Ryan’s family and Ryan’s WAG won’t give up the fight until a cure is found.

DIPG is a terminal-upon-diagnosis brain cancer with no known treatment and no known cure with a life expectancy of 6-12 months. The standard of care has not changed in over 60 years and includes only palliative brain radiation meant to extend life. Clinical trials in all pediatric cancers is significantly underfunded by the government (approximately 5% of federal cancer research goes to kids’ cancers… and a nominal percentage toward childhood brain cancers which are the most deadly of childhood cancers). Most clinical trials are funded privately by foundations such as Tough2gether comprised of bereaved parents. All funds donated to Ryan’s page are allocated by Ryan’s family to fund DIPG/DMG clinical trials (and to family support of those currently fighting) so that someday, a child diagnosed in the future isn’t told, “Sorry, there is nothing we can do… your child only has about a year to live.”

Thank you for your support of Tough2gether.org in honor of Ryan Tyler Kirkby.