When he left Iowa City the first of October, Ryan was able to walk 10 feet with the aid of a therapist and a nurse. He couldn't sit up without help, but he could say a few words. His vision had improved to the point where he could see figures, but they were very blurry. He also had double vision and nystagmus (jerky eye movement). However, he was well enough to begin rehabilitations therapies.

Ryan's parents transported him to Younkers Rehabilitation Center in Des Moines. Although there were more complications while in therapy, Ryan was discharged on December 12, 2006. He was ready for out-patient physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

During the summer of 2007, Ryan added hippotherapy (horse therapy) to his schedule. The staff at Timber Creek Therapies in Guthrie Center, Iowa, helped Ryan make dramatic gains in balance and control.

After one month of therapy at Timber Creek, Ryan had the ability to get up from a chair and move around his house using a walker.

Even though his eyesight was still poor and he could only use his right hand, Ryan was restless and wanted to get more involved in his life. So in the early spring of 2006,

Ryan reassures his grandmother

Ryan contacted a Presidential candidate's campaign headquarters and began doing work there on a weekly basis.

Ryan also wanted to get back to school, so he worked very hard to become more independent. He got a motorized wheelchair and was was ready to return to college, where he planned to major in Spanish & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - even though he had a serious speech impediment.