hey guys,

I have been down in alabama for the JWC competition, and will be here until the classic. After the JWC I headed up towards Guntersville to fish yesterday and today and tomorrow. As I came off the water after a great day at Guntersville, I got a phone call from my mom back in MD that completely ruined the day. No one wants to hear this news:

She told me that one of my classmates died after hitting a tree and falling into a rivene while sledding on Monday. He was a Junior at my high school, and one of the nicest kids in the grade. last year, we were in alot of the same classes together, and this year i am in his twin sister's Latin class.

Quote from the local paper:

"Ryan Conley, 16, was sledding with his sister on their family's farm in Lisbon just before noon when he crashed into a tree, a Howard County fire spokesman said. Paramedics had to use ropes and pulleys attached to trees to reach the youth because the hill, estimated to be 1,000 feet long and a 40-degree incline, was covered in ice, the spokesman said.

The Glenelg High School 11th-grader was flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where he was pronounced dead - the second person in the Baltimore region since Friday to die in a sledding accident.

"Yesterday, (he) was riding on a plastic, saucer-like sled at his family's home in the 16000 block of Camalo Drive, in a hilly, rural part of western Howard County, said Bill Mould, a spokesman for the county fire and rescue services.

The teenager crashed into a tree at 11:54 a.m. A sibling, who neighbors said was his twin sister, called 911. Firefighters were unable to reach the youth initially because the hill was so steep and slippery, and they had to tie ropes and pulleys to trees, Mould said."

I am still sick to my stomach, please offer your prayers to comfort his family, i can remember when he offered me to fish in his farm pond, he was always a nice kid, and kids didnt treat him the way he treated others.

RIP Ryan

God Bless

Sorry to hear that...I will say a prayer for the family. Ed

Sorry to hear that...I will say a prayer for the family. Ed

Me Too.........

Ronnie

Awful news.

It is always devestating when a young person dies so needlessly.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

My prayers to the young man and family as well. It breaks my heart for anyone to move on by accident but, when it is a youth that never had a chance to experience life, it makes it that much sadder. Such is life.

Sorry about this horrible incident, him and his family will be in my prayers.

It is so tragic when a young person passes on.

That's just tragic.  My sympathies go out to Ryan's family and friends.

 I can remember when I was younger and lost classmates to accidents. It is a gut wrenching time for the family and friends. When you are that age it is really hard to learn one of life's worst lessons, you are not invincible.

 My thoughts go out to you, his friends and especially his family...

                                                        As Ever,

                                                         Skillet

Ben,

What a tragedy, to lose such a young life. Your friend, his family, and you will be in my prayers.

Falcon

That is sad.  My prayers are with his family.  

The family will be in my prayers.

So sorry to hear this story.  Makes you take a second and think about how people can be tragically taken and how we need to appreciate the time we have here.  My sympathies go out to you and his family.

I always hate to hear something like that his family will be in my prayers

You and your friend, along with his family will be in my families thoughts and prayers.

Matt

Very tragic indeed. Thoughts and Prayers to you, his friends and family.

Hey guys.....i just heard some more terrible news from back home....

one of my friends was just diagnosed with a brain tumor on his brain stem, and is in the hospital, please keep your prayers with him and his family.....his name is Zach.

this has been a pretty bad week for my hometown :'(

Thanks for the support guys

Ben

Ben, that's terrible news. Thoughts and prayers go out. I hope your buddy Zack pulls through.

They say when it rains it pours, and man can it ever. Hopefully this is the last of it.  

Holy cow.

Prayers sent

he just had surgery to remove cranial pressure, and now the doctors are looking into the brain tumor. At this time I have no idea what his status is, but his sister says that he is able to laugh and speak and eat, which is huge.

His dad was was my basketball team coach for 3 years and Zach was my powerforward, and I've been his friend since 5th grade. All of your thoughts help.

Also, Ryan's funeral was yesterday, his family needs all the support they can get now that they try to return to a normal life. Ryan was a great kid and a great classmate. He will be missed dearly.

Thanks guys

ben

Prayer is the most powerful thing in a situation like this, I'll be praying for them.

GREAT NEWS!!!

My friend with the brain tumor finally was able to go to Johns Hopkins ot get a diagnosis. HE DOESNT HAVE A BRAIN TUMOR.

He was mis-diagnosed with a brain tumor, when in actuality it was a small non-cancerous buildup of tissue.

He had sugery that will make sure that fluid does not build up. Now he is perfectly fine and will live a normal life, the growth has no health risks!!!

He will live a long, healthy, sport-filled life!!!!

THANK GOD!!!

Thank you all for your prayers and support!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow!

A story made for tv, I'm diggin' it!

That's really great news for your friend and his family! I'm really happy for them. I can't begin to imagine the mix of emotions through the ordeal then the feeling of elation that came over him when he got the great news.

Awesome news!!!