From hurting to helping, Ryan comes ‘full circle’

This is the sixth story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Rescue.” This month, we look into Ryan’s story, recounting his journey to a new life.

In 2024, Ryan was diagnosed with stage three melanoma and is grateful for the support he found at the Mission. After immunotherapy and radiation treatments, he is now declared cancer-free.

Thinking back on all he has gone through and all that he has accomplished in the last few years still amazes Ryan. “I got sober, saved, and beat stage three cancer all while I was here,” he said, “and I don’t think it would have been possible anywhere else.”

Ryan’s story shows the power of God to rescue us even from the bleakest of situations and years of wandering in the dark.

Growing up in Salinas, Ryan described his childhood with his mom, stepdad, and two siblings as normal by most accounts. “We were cared for and had what we needed to thrive and grow,” he recalled, “but there was something dark that was always hanging over me.” That something was the fact that his biological father was in prison. “I’m not sure why this had such a hold over me, but as I got older, I began to rebel against things,” he said.

At first, this was getting into fights at school and struggling with classwork, but by 12, Ryan was smoking pot. “Things weren’t too bad at that point but looking back at that time of my life I can see that I was already headed down a dark path,” said Ryan. He managed to graduate high school and was even on the basketball team at a local junior college. “But I was kicked off for not going to class. Apparently that was the part of college that they are serious about,” he said with a grin.

Ryan’s life got progressively worse throughout most of his 20s as he found new addictions and struggled just to get by. “I was barely hanging on through those years. Things weren’t as bad as they would get, but they were definitely heading that way,” he said. “I managed to get two DUIs, but I also had my son when I was 25. So, there were some bright spots during that time.”

Unfortunately for Ryan, those bright spots were soon overshadowed by a deepening use of heroin and meth. He spent the next decade and a half homeless and unable to stay sober. “There were moments when I felt close to being able to get clean, but that never lasted long,” he said.

“Then when I was 40 something happened that started out bad but that eventually got me the help I needed.”

While visiting a friend, Ryan went into a drug-induced psychosis and was arrested for his own safety. He was turned over to authorities and sent to a medical center for a 72-hour mental hold before being released. “It was at this point that I started crying out to God for help and He answered me.”

A woman who Ryan described as a “random stranger” asked him if he needed help and got him to a crisis center. From there, Ryan entered a recovery program for three months. Once out, Ryan was sober but still not sure of his ability to stay that way. “I went to visit my son in Moorpark, but I kept feeling like I was on the brink of relapsing,” he recalled. “I went to Oxnard after that to see my brother, but I ended up sleeping on a bench at the Transit Center. When I woke up, I asked someone if there was some place nearby to get food and they sent me to the Rescue Mission. The rest, as they say, is history.”

Ryan joined the Life Recovery Program in January 2024 and in March of the same year, he was diagnosed with stage three melanoma. “I was stunned, of course, when I got the news but that didn’t last long because I already knew I was where I needed to be,” he said. “I was sober, had a strong relationship with God, and for the first time in my life I had hope.” He paused for a moment and then continued. “I had hope despite my diagnosis and that was amazing.” Ryan began two months of immunotherapy and followed that with radiation treatments. In September 2025, he was declared cancer-free.

Ryan completed the program and decided to continue as a Ministry Resident, further strengthening his walk with God while gaining valuable experience in helping others who have struggled with addictions and homelessness. This all led to his new position with Mercy House, a nonprofit housing and supportive services organization dedicated to ending homelessness with compassion and dignity.

“It has all come full circle for me now. From homeless and addicted, to getting a chance to give back and help people who are like me. It’s all mind blowing in so many ways, especially considering where I was for so many years,” said Ryan, “but as I let the Lord work in my life and trust the process, I have come to expect amazing things to happen.”