The heartbroken family of a young dad who has sadly died less than a year after being diagnosed with cancer have told how he ‘fought with bravery and courage’. “Make the most of every minute” – that was Ryan Storey’s determined statement to everyone, after he was diagnosed with a Burkitt’s Lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, last year.
The diagnosis had been a bolt from the blue for Ryan and his fiancée Anais, as he hadn’t felt ill or had any symptoms when he noticed a lump in his armpit while carrying shopping bags last summer. The lump was swiftly diagnosed as the rare form of lymphoma which affects the blood and lymph system –and is diagnosed in just 210 people in the UK each year.
Five weeks into his cancer treatment at the Queen’s Centre within Castle Hill Hospital, the Beverley couple learned the bittersweet news they were expecting a baby. Ryan, 28, was over the moon to get to meet his newborn son last Spring. A fortnight before his son’s arrival into the world, he told Hull Live: “You don’t know what’s around the corner, you don’t know how much time you have, so spend time with the people you love, don’t waste time arguing, do what you want to do, appreciate the small things and just enjoy life”.
Ryan had been documenting his experience on Instagram and TikTok under the handle @ryanscancerjourney – a personal blog which grew to become a guiding light and beacon of hope for thousands of others enduring similar battles. Anais has revealed that Ryan passed away this week surrounded by his loved ones. In a statement she said she described her fiancé as a “true inspiration to so many, an absolute hero, the funniest person and the most positive, bubbly, happy person”.
On Thursday, she said: “We are absolutely devastated to announce that our lovely Ryan passed away early hours this morning. I would say he lost his battle to cancer but one thing that man didn’t do was lose.
“He fought so hard with bravery and courage against this evil disease each and every day of his battle and he will always be a winner in everyone’s eyes with the way he carried himself. Ryan kept smiling the whole way through and never lost his humour, even on his last day on this earth he managed to crack a joke and that’s just Ryan, absolutely hilarious and the brightest light. Ryan felt most comfortable in his chair towards the end and that’s where he stayed right until the end.
“He left this world just how he wanted, upright, in control and not giving in to a hospital bed which is a true reflection of his strength. Ryan passed quickly and peacefully holding my hand, in his final moments he was surrounded by his family, his baby boy and his best friend Pippin.
“He felt loved and safe. He asked me to talk to him and so I did, I told him how loved he is, I spoke about our trip to Edinburgh which was always one of our favourite memories and most importantly I promised him I’d give our baby Rueben the best childhood and that I’d be strong for me, strong for Rueben and most importantly strong for him.
“I told him I loved him and with all his strength he told me he loved me back and for that I’m forever grateful. What an incredible man he was, a true inspiration to so many, an absolute hero, the funniest person and the most positive, bubbly, happy person.”
She added: “He will be so deeply missed by so many. As a family we would like to thank everyone who supported his journey, Thank you for the kind words, donations and ongoing support that Ryan received by loved ones and by strangers. His legacy will live on forever and we are all so so proud. Rest in peace my love.”
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