Sarah Anne Ryan -
Words can never convey her transcendent essence, her limitless wonder
Sarah unexpectantly passed on January 8, 2019 at the age of fifteen. Her heart gave out during the final stages of scoliosis surgery at Lurie Children’s Hospital (Chicago, IL), which Sarah affectionately thought of as her second home.
Sarah was born in Harvey, Illinois on October 1, 2003 to Dan and Kristen Ryan. A cherished baby sister to Anthony Swiatnicki, 23, Allison, 16 and big sister, a role she loved, to Jeremiah, 13.
As an infant, she was diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy (“CMD”) and later received a more specific diagnosis of dystroglycanopathy-POMT2, a sub-group of CMD. Sarah loved participating in fundraising for various organizations including the MDA. She also participated in a natural life history study at the University of Iowa.
Sarah was a freshman in high school at Elim Christian School (Palos Heights), where she also attended middle school. Prior to Elim she attended Speed SEJA from age 3 through elementary school.
Sarah loved spending time at school with her friends and staff, surfing YouTube, taking selfies, potty humor, walks, drives, listening to music, and most of all snuggling, the closer the better. She lit up the room with her entrances, because clearly the party had arrived. Sarah delighted in greeting others, singing and dancing with reckless abandon, sweet touches of comfort. She had a spirit that transcended her obstacles. To know Sarah was to love her.