Ryle's Story — Dallas, TX
RisingFaith
Nine surgeries before his thirteenth birthday.
Still showing up.
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Nine surgeries before his thirteenth birthday.
Still showing up.
Some kids are born into a world that wasn't built for them.
Ryle is building his own.
A sixth grader from Dallas who builds Lego kingdoms, codes his own games, designs shoes that don't exist yet — and plays wheelchair basketball like he has something to prove. Because he does.
The family that drove to every surgery at 4 a.m., never once said “maybe next year,” and lets Panda the cat sleep on Ryle's wheelchair. His parents, his sisters Ava and Abigail — they're the reason any of this is possible.
Mother & Son
Father & Son
The Family
Before the arena, before the medals — there was a little boy with a top knot, a big smile, and an even bigger spirit.
Same kid. Bigger dreams.
When he's not on the court, Ryle builds. Lego cities that take over the dining table. Minecraft worlds with their own economies. Code that does what he tells it to. He's been ordering omakase since he was five — and yes, he has opinions about rice.
Car enthusiast too
Builder of code
The Fight
Spina bifida doesn't announce itself gently. It shows up at birth and never leaves. For Ryle, that's meant nine surgeries before his thirteenth birthday.
Still smiling through it all
The Road Back
Post-surgery recovery
Comfort in hard moments
Learning to walk again
Each step, his own
Standing. On his own two feet.
Spina bifida shows up at birth and stays forever. Lifetime cost of care: $790,000. But the thing about Ryle — he's never once calculated the cost of quitting.
Spina bifida diagnosed at birth. The doctors handed his parents a prognosis. His parents handed it back.
Every one before his thirteenth birthday. Every one a comeback. Hospital beds, waiting rooms, physical therapy — and a smile that never quit.
Wheeled onto the court for the first time. Looked around. Knew exactly where he belonged.
Scooters, top knots, big smiles, and a spirit that couldn't be contained. Building Lego worlds and Minecraft economies before middle school.
Flew on a Southwest charter to Walt Disney World. Terrified of the Tron ride. Rode it anyway. "It was scary. But it was worth it. I conquered my fear."
Stood on the #1 podium. Not because the competition was easy — because he prepared like it wouldn't be.
UCO, Oklahoma. Qualified for the 14 & Under Paralympic division. Seven years of training. One very big stage ahead.
He's not dreaming. He's planning. The story isn't finished.
The Comeback
Where it started
His first practice. Still in diapers. Already knew this was home.
Ryle, age 12
“My favorite part is the teamwork — if we use teamwork, we are able to win lots of games.”
The Team
Game Day
Not Just Basketball
Thanks to Kidd's Kids, Ryle flew to Walt Disney World on a Southwest charter — met the pilots on the tarmac, and landed in the most magical place on Earth.
Then came the Tron Lightcycle Run — the fastest ride in all of Disney. Ryle was terrified. Heart pounding. Hands shaking.
He rode it anyway.
“It was scary. But it was worth it. I conquered my fear.”
Characters, Rides & Magic
No one does this alone. Behind every surgery, every game, every hard morning — there's a community that refuses to let Ryle fight by himself.
Showed up at surgery #6 with tacos. Pray over him before every tournament. The kind of community that doesn't disappear when things get hard.
Never went easy on him — because he'd never forgive them if they did. Seven years of teammates who pushed him to be better every single practice.
The ones in the waiting room at 4 a.m. The parents who never said "maybe next year." Ava and Abigail, who never let him be anything less than their brother.
Kidd's Kids — the community that said yes
“Making me try harder and helping me get better every day.”
— Ryle, on his team
“My favorite part is the teamwork — if we use teamwork, we are able to win lots of games.”
— Ryle, age 12
First Place — Kidnetic Games
Eyes on the future
Every surgery had someone in the waiting room. Every game had someone in the stands. Every hard morning had someone who said “get up — you've got this.”
That someone could be you.
He reads every single one.
