What started off as a request to overnight a signed poster for a special little girl, turned into a new and inspiring friendship with an American hero. Ryan Blackwell was in a race against time, to make a dream come true for a young girl whose inspiration is Bethany Hamilton. Just days away from an award ceremony, where Ryan hoped to present this special girl with a signed poster, there was no time to waste. Our team was able to connect with Ryan for the quick turnaround, and in doing so, found ourselves inspired and moved as we learned of his story. 

On Dec 6, 2019, Ryan was serving at his post at the Pensacola Navy Base in FL. At approximately 6:30 am, Ryan watched as a Saudi student walked past his door, smiled, and continued down the hall. Minutes later Ryan began hearing gunshots. He quickly shut the door, advising everyone in the room to turn off the lights and take cover. Ryan placed himself in front of his fellow sailor to keep her from being shot. While calling his Sargent, Ryan felt the first bullet, go through his right arm, partially severing his median nerve, which controls most of your movement to your hand. Once he felt the first shot, he turned and shielded the other soldier, taking all the other rounds to his back. As the shooting subsided, Ryan got up, ran to the window, and pushed the ac unit out. He and the other two soldiers with him were able to get the window up and dive out. 

As Ryan rushed to take action; he quickly became lightheaded. As he sat down he took his belt off and made a tourniquet around his arm, holding it like a sling around his neck. He recalls at that moment feeling that he now had more time on his side, receiving an adrenaline rush. He and another sailor jumped into their Sargent’s car, trying to get to the front gate for medical assistance, in spite of all the chaos surrounding. When he finally got there, he was notified that the ambulance was still ten minutes out from arriving. Ryan shared, that when he got out of the car, one of the first things he saw was one of the three guys who ended up losing their lives that day. He realized if he didn’t get help right then, he wasn’t going to make it. Ryan told the police officer that he didn’t have time to wait, and needed to get to a hospital right away. The cop told him to get into the back of his car and he’d take him. As Ryan opened the door he saw blood everywhere and an officer who had been shot in the leg. Quick again to action, Ryan stuck his elbow in the officer’s leg to stop the bleeding, and asked the officer to hold up his arm with the tourniquet. 

Laying on the hospital bed, Ryan heard the doctors count out the six gunshots he had throughout his body. Due to the extent of his injuries, Ryan ended up needing a colostomy bag for four months and suffered a paralyzed hand, limiting him to what he was able to do by himself. He recalls his wife stepping up and helping him, with her selfless love. Today Ryan is still working towards the road to recovery, both physically and mentally. He said the healing is all heading in the right direction, he has a new sense of perspective on life.