MYM: Wheelchair Bound Teen Jumps Out of Plane in VA

Ryan Alam was finally able to check a huge thing off his bucket list.

Alam is a high school junior with an extremely rare neurodegenerative disease that has left him wheelchair-bound. Although symptoms of his disease began showing up when he was in elementary school, Ryan’s condition was a mystery until recently when he was diagnosed with Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation or NBIA. His version of NBIA is mitochondrial-membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration or MPAN.

The diagnosis came after years of doctors, physical therapy, aqua therapy, occupational therapy, and private trainers, according to a release from the Golden Knights.

None of this stopped Alam from taking a leap of faith. He did this tandem jump with a member of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, in front of his fellow students at Potomac Falls High School.

The Golden Knights perform live parachute demonstrations for the American public, reaching a third of the country every year. They try to assist in most requests, even those that require special accommodations.

We had the chance to talk to Ryan and his mom, Tuba Alam, this morning about the experience. You can hear the conversation down below!

We share a feel-good story for our segment Make Your Monday every Monday at 7:40!

Want to help? Check out the link below

https://childrensnational.donordrive.com/campaign/Help-Cure-NBIA-MPAN

Source: WJLA


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content