In early 2020, Ryan Subroski, was just your typical 13 year old boy attending 9th grade. This was his and his younger brother, Nathan’s, 3rd year participating in the archery program at his school. Ryan had shot a school record breaking score of 294 on February 14, 2020. This was just eleven days before Ryan had a heart attack due to a bowel perforation on February 25, 2020.
Ryan would spend 5 months in Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. His stay included: 1.5 months in the PICU, 2 months on the main floors and 1.5 months in the rehabilitation unit. After 4 major abdominal surgeries, Ryan had to relearn to do everything, including learning how to walk again.
At the beginning of rehab, they asked Ryan what his goals were, he had two: 1. To be able to continue shooting archery, 2. To be able to get on the floor to play with his baby cousin. Ryan and his therapists worked hard to make this happen.
Not only was Ryan able to come back to archery after his hospital stay, he came out shooting 50’s. Ryan has continued to have multiple shorter hospital stays and medical challenges since 2020. However, Ryan has also continued with shooting archery, working on his BSA Eagle rank, and enjoying time with his family. He even shot another school record breaking score of 296 in 2022.
Ryan’s senior year of high school has been very busy with him attending High School and College simultaneously, earning his Life rank in scouts (one more rank to earn his Eagle rank), and ultimately, becoming the Pennsylvania State Championship as the top male overall with a score of 295. Ryan is living proof that if you have the dedication, motivation, and support from your family, you can overcome anything that is thrown at you and come out the other end a better person.
