NNFF Dedication - Ryley Stewart Irwin

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Ryley Stewart Irwin

July 26, 1982 - August 27, 2003

Our 21 year old son died of NF on August 27, 2003. Ryley was a fun-loving, active and vivacious young man, with a ton of potential and a million dollar smile. On Friday evening, August 22, he tripped and fell on the beach, injuring his shoulder and also suffering a small puncture wound under his left arm from a branch. The next day he visited the doctor and was given pain killers. Over the course of the weekend, other medication was prescribed due to severe vomiting. On Tuesday morning we took him to the hospital where he was treated for dehydration and given gravol for the vomiting. He was discharged that afternoon, but that evening he became extremely ill and was re-admitted. At this point he was finally diagnosed with NF and underwent emergency debridement surgery. He was than transferred to a larger hospital for a higher level of care, but time had run out and he died the next morning. His heart stopped just as his Dad touched his head and told him he loved him. His death seems so senseless, but as the many other stories I have read this terrible disease is so very often misdiagnosed. I sincerely hope that this web site will bring more awareness, so that others may be spared this horrible death.

Donna Irwin
djirwin@telus.net

January 2004

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