Where do I Roll From Here?

 Over the past three articles, I talked about being born with Nemaline Myopathy and the doctors telling my parents I would only survive a year. A year would turn into living at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. When I turned seventeen years old, upper management approached my mom and

Taking a Look Back at the Start of my Journey

 March 16th, 2024, will mark the 30th anniversary of the day I moved out of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and into my apartment. Each week in March, I will write about my journey from 1975 to now. I’ll be sharing my story from my perspective and remembering past

When Green Turns to Yellow It’s Time to Slow Down

 Welcome to Autumn 2023! We’re only a few days into Fall, and it’s been gorgeous outside. The signs are starting to show, though. The leaves are changing colour and falling off the trees. The nights and early mornings are getting colder, and the days are getting shorter, I love the

28 years later: A look back at how I changed the system

 ABOVE: Ryan Lythall holds the keys to his new apartment with CHEO nurse Lisa Rouleau. (Photo: Ottawa Sun, March 17, 1994) . . . but the fight continues. On March 16th, 2022, I celebrated my 28th anniversary of living independently. It wouldn’t be a big deal for most, but for me, well, I’m not

Introducing OLM’s new contributor, Ryan Lythall

 My name is Ryan Lythall. This is my first column for Ottawa Life Magazine, so I wanted to introduce myself. My story is a bit different than most. In 1975, I was born with a rare Neuromuscular condition called Nemaline Myopathy. NM causes muscle weakness, speech impairments, and respiratory problems.