Wrestling tragedy at Pleasant Hill High School leads to teen's paralysis

First picture of Ryan from hospital bed

The East Bay community of Pleasant Hill is reeling from the tragic result of a Jan. 10th wrestling match at College Park High School that led to 16-year-old sophomore, Ryan Joseph, suffering a C-4 spinal cord injury.  

Ryan is currently at the John Muir Medical Center where he underwent a tracheotomy procedure and is breathing with assistance through a ventilator.  He will be monitored for a period of several weeks until the family can assess the next steps for his rehab stint.  It was reported that the family is looking into taking Ryan to Denver-based Craig Hospital though details were still sketchy.

Ryan was also a member of the Lacrosse team

In June of 2016, San Ramon Valley High School senior football player, Jake Javier, suffered a spinal cord injury and in January of 2017, Pleasanton teenager, Myles Molnar, suffered a spinal cord injury while in a wrestling match.  Jake is now in his first year at Cal Poly State University and Myles is a sophomore in high school.

Ryan's friends and family have set up a GoFundMe page and are requesting for donations be made to help cover what is likely to be an avalanche of medical expenses related to his ongoing care.