Ryan and Lydia Carneson welcomed their first child Reef in 2008, who was born with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For the husband and wife, who lived in South Africa at the time, their whole world came “crashing down”. They immediately put their “careers and lives on hold” to save their son’s life, and the first-ever bone marrow transplant in the country was performed on Reef to give the brave youngster the best chance he could get.
“He survived, which was a miracle,” said Lydia. But it was just the start of a long journey full of turmoil for the courageous little boy and his loving family, a journey which would take him across the world and inspire many people along the way. Relocating from South Africa to America to help their infant son survive Although the bone marrow transplant gave him some time, it resulted in complications, and the family had to move to Los Angeles in the USA to get the treatment they needed to save Reef.
The treatment went so well that life for the Carnesons finally stabilised, long enough for dad Ryan to go back to university. Unable to continue his work as a veterinarian due to his degree not transferring to the states, Ryan found a new passion — studying baking and pastry-making. He graduated at the Art Institute of Hollywood after two years, but unfortunately things were going downhill with little Reef.
On top of his leukemia, he was also diagnosed with skin cancer. The family relocated from Los Angeles to Cincinnati, and were able.
