In Support of Ryan Hinze
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On February 6, 2024, Ryan’s life changed in an instant. While riding his bike through a crosswalk, 14 year old Ryan was struck by a truck on the left side of his body. The impact caused catastrophic injuries and set off a medical emergency that would test his limits of survival.
At the scene, intubation was unsuccessful, and Ryan was receiving only 40% oxygen on the way to the hospital after vomiting compromised his airway. Emergency physicians spent critical time suctioning just to establish oxygen. With fixed pupils and a Glasgow Coma Score of 3, the neurosurgical team rushed Ryan into an emergency craniectomy, removing part of his skull to relieve rapidly increasing pressure on his brain.
Ryan miraculously survived the accident and brain surgery that night. His body sustained extensive trauma. Ryan's left femur was broken completely in half, requiring surgical rod placement. He suffered a broken rib, facial fractures, a tear in his lung, and widespread lacerations across his body and face. While his body suffered terrible injuries, they were secondary to the life-altering damage done to his brain.
An MRI performed a week later revealed the extent of his severe traumatic brain injuries, including hypoxic brain injury, multiple strokes, and diffuse axonal injury. Ryan suffered global brain damage, affecting both hemispheres and involving both the outer cortex and deeper structures of the brain. Doctors gently prepared the family for the possibility that Ryan might never wake up.
But Ryan did.
Ryan came out of his coma during his six weeks in the ICU, then spent two weeks in hospital acute care, and seven weeks at Phoenix Children's Hospital's Inpatient Neuro Rehab. During his ICU stay, Ryan had a second brain surgery to replace the skull piece and surgery to place a feeding tube in his abdomen. At Phoenix Children's Ryan endured daily therapies along with extensive casting to prevent permanent contractures. In the final week of inpatient rehab, using an eye-gaze device and immense effort, Ryan spelled his name—a powerful moment that confirmed he was still very much present, even when his body could not respond.
After nearly four months in the hospital, Ryan returned home on May 21, 2024, unable to speak, move voluntarily, or hold his head up. Yet the moment he arrived home, surrounded by his parents and three siblings, the near-constant moaning that had marked his distress stopped completely.
Since coming home, Ryan has been steadily rebuilding his life. He immediately began outpatient therapies and is relearning all of his motor functions, working through memory challenges, and is continuing to make meaningful gains. This road is long and incredibly difficult, but his family remains united, encouraged by the progress they continue to see, Ryan's drive and strong faith.
Ryan has made these gains through a combination of therapies. His physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy are covered by insurance. However, Ryan has experienced real, positive results from adding targeted nutritional supplements and other powerful therapies such as acupuncture, hippotherapy, neurofeedback, red light therapy and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. These added therapies are helping—but none are covered by insurance, creating a significant financial burden for the family.
Ryan's age puts him at a critical stage of brain development, where it is vital to maximize his neuroplasticity by introducing the best treatments and therapies available, including stem cell treatment and specialized therapeutic intensives that target walking, talking, memory function, regulating muscle tone and full use of his hands and legs.
Ryan's age puts him at a critical stage of brain development, where it is vital to maximize his neuroplasticity by introducing the best treatments and therapies available, including stem cell treatment and specialized therapeutic intensives that target walking, talking, memory function, regulating muscle tone and full use of his hands and legs.
Many have asked how they can help, and this page exists to give friends, family, and the community a meaningful way to support Ryan’s continued healing. The treatments listed below are largely already scheduled, with a few still pending, and every dollar raised will go directly toward helping Ryan access the care outlined below as he continues to make progress.
Upcoming Treatments (2026)
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber & Treatment Plan — $17,100
- Stem Cell Therapy (Dr. Proefrock) — $8,500
- Intensive Physical Therapy at NAPA Center — $17,500 with Travel (x2 in the year)
- Functional Neurology / Red Light Therapy (Dr. Crawford) — $11,000
- Functional Neurology (Dr. Antonucci) — $9,000 with Travel
Ryan’s parents, Hanna and Marc, will be sharing updates here, celebrating milestones both big and small as he continues forward. We humbly ask that you take a moment to prayerfully consider donating, lifting Ryan and his family in prayer, or sharing his story with others who may feel called to help.
We invite all of you to follow Ryan’s progress, stand with this family, and be part of the community helping Ryan continue to grow, heal, and make gains—one step at a time.
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- Created Jan 26, 2026
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