About Sarah's Soles
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Our NEW SHOE dreams have come true!
It happens too often... A family is referred to us, they come in and we have shoes for some of the family, but not all. It breaks our hearts everytime....but now we will be able to provide NEW shoes to these families!
Remember that feeling of getting a new pair of shoes?
How it feels to have a new pair of shoes that fit you perfectly?
We are so happy to share that feeling with the individuals and families that come into OPEN ACCESS.
With the donation and partnership with THE SARAH RYAN FOUNDATION together we get to put new shoes on all those feet!
With each shoe given away we tie a pink ribbon to honor the memory of Sarah Anne Ryan. (Who loved shoes!)
About Open Access
Sarah Anne Ryan -
Words can never convey her transcendent essence, her limitless wonder
Sarah unexpectantly passed on January 8, 2019 at the age of fifteen. Her heart gave out during the final stages of scoliosis surgery at Lurie Children’s Hospital (Chicago, IL), which Sarah affectionately thought of as her second home.
Sarah was born in Harvey, Illinois on October 1, 2003 to Dan and Kristen Ryan. A cherished baby sister to Anthony Swiatnicki, 23, Allison, 16 and big sister, a role she loved, to Jeremiah, 13.
As an infant, she was diagnosed with congenital muscular dystrophy (“CMD”) and later received a more specific diagnosis of dystroglycanopathy-POMT2, a sub-group of CMD. Sarah loved participating in fundraising for various organizations including the MDA. She also participated in a natural life history study at the University of Iowa.
Sarah was a freshman in high school at Elim Christian School (Palos Heights), where she also attended middle school. Prior to Elim she attended Speed SEJA from age 3 through elementary school.
Sarah loved spending time at school with her friends and staff, surfing YouTube, taking selfies, potty humor, walks, drives, listening to music, and most of all snuggling, the closer the better. She lit up the room with her entrances, because clearly the party had arrived. Sarah delighted in greeting others, singing and dancing with reckless abandon, sweet touches of comfort. She had a spirit that transcended her obstacles.
To know Sarah was to love her.
