Warrington freshman overcomes cancer, has wish granted with trip to Super Bowl

Although it has been about a month since Ryan Lohan returned from the Super Bowl, the Warrington freshman’s wide smile hasn’t gone away.

Considering what Lohan has been through the past 18 months, that smile may be permanent.

Lohan experienced discomfort in his chest throughout the summer of 2014; he attributed it to soreness from weightlifting. When he was short of breath playing basketball or walking up a flight of stairs, Lohan took it as a signal to get back on the treadmill.

When Lohan coughed up blood in August— during his first week of his senior year at Estero High School—he knew it was something more serious. But even Lohan wasn’t prepared for the news.

A grapefruit-sized tumor pressing against his right lung.

Cancer.

“When they showed me that X-ray, it got pretty emotional,” said Lohan, 19.

Lohan undergoing treatment for germ cell cancer in 2014. (Photo courtesy: Lohan family).

Lohan, then 17, was diagnosed with a germ cell tumor, a type of cancer that typically originates in the reproductive systems, specifically the testicles and ovaries. He began chemotherapy within days, and underwent four rounds of the treatment in all. His hair fell out, and he was constantly nauseous and fatigued.

“It’s brutal,” Lohan said. “It just drains all your energy. You wake up in the morning, and you’re still tired. You go to school, and you’d be aching all day. Two weeks would go by, and I’d feel better. Then, I’d have another round and it knocks you back down.”

Survival rates for germ cell tumors vary depending on numerous factors, including the tumor’s size, location, and whether it has spread. Lohan said he was given a positive prognosis, but the gravity of his situation still weighed on him.

“There wasn’t a big possibility I was going to die, but you still have that big tumor in your chest, so you definitely think about life and death,” he said.

Ryan and his father in front of Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning’s locker. (Photo courtesy: Lohan family).

Chemotherapy reduced the size of the tumor considerably, and it was surgically removed on Dec. 18, 2014. Lohan was allowed to spend the holidays at home with his family, but developed an infection. Doctors performed another surgery to eliminate the infection, and Lohan has been in remission for more than a year—which drastically reduces the chance for a recurrence, Lohan said.

Lohan qualified to be a recipient in the Make-A-Wish Foundation during his hospitalization. When Make-A-Wish representatives inquired about his “wish,” Lohan, a devoted Miami Dolphins fan, asked to go to the Super Bowl. Arrangements couldn’t be made for Lohan to attend last year’s Super Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., so Make-A-Wish secured Ryan and his family a trip  to Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, Calif.

“It was amazing,” said Lohan, who met numerous NFL players during the week. “The game wasn’t the best, but the whole experience was awesome.”

Lohan, a General Studies major, said attending the Super Bowl marks the end to a difficult chapter in his life. His focus is on living every moment to the fullest, and maximizing his time at Warrington.

“Before cancer, I didn’t think much about what I wanted to do, but now I want to make an impact,” Lohan said. “I don’t want to go through the world just being complacent. I’m here to find out what part of business I fit into.”

DID YOU KNOW?

• Ryan applied to only two colleges—UF and Florida State—and was accepted to both. His decision to come to UF was simple: “Best school in Florida!”
• Among the players Ryan met at the Super Bowl were Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden, who follows Lohan on Twitter.
• Ryan said he’s grateful to his family, friends, the doctors and nurses who cared for him and his high school administrators. “Throughout this whole experience, a lot of great people helped me along the way. You learn how great people can be, how nice they can be.”