Indy born and raised, both finding a home in the South, Ryan and Jen have been growing roots in Atlanta for the last eight years. A chef by trade, Ryan cannot imagine doing anything else with his career than cooking. He has spent the last 15 years working in wonderful kitchens with amazing people and cultivating relationships within the Industry.
For the last four years, Ryan and Jen have been working hard on their dream restaurant, Staplehouse. Each week inviting 10 strangers into their home to sample some fare, make new friends and raise a glass to the Atlanta dining community.
With a location set and capital raised, they were all but ready to a launch their vision when some unexpected news developed. On December 21st 2012 Ryan was pre-diagnosed with Gallbladder Cancer and then New Year’s Eve, it was confirmed that he has Stage IV Gallbladder Cancer that has spread to the liver and lungs. This is the fight of his life. The reason he has learned all the lessons he has. It is time to put it all out there and say NO to circumstances and push the battle line forward. Gallbladder Cancer is a rare form of cancer that the medical industry is just starting to learn about. Ryan and Jen are exploring all forms of treatment options and turning over every stone in search of the best plan of action on the road to recovery.
They wish to say thank you for all the kind deeds of others as they fight to defeat this foe.


simply dropping by to say hello
Dear Ryan and Jen -
We have been keeping you in our thoughts and prayers since we got the news. Ryan, we are friends of Rachel and Richard and had the great pleasure of attending a Staple House dinner. It is so lovely to see not only the support you have around you but to be witness to your strength and spirit. You will never leave our prayers as you move along your journey. Keep feeling the love and hang in there! We are cheering you every step of the way.
Much love,
Susan and Peter Crooks
Dear Ryan and Jen -
We have been keeping you in our thoughts and prayers since we got the news. Ryan, we are friends of Rachel and Richard had the great pleasure of attending a Staple House dinner. It is so lovely to see not only the support you have around you but to be witness to your strength and spirit. You will never leave our prayers as you move along your journey. Keep feeling the love and hang in there! We are cheering you every step of the way.
Much love,
Susan and Peter Crooks
Just came across this story of hope for you! So strange, I really have not read or heard much about gallbladder cancer in the past – and now – two stories in less than a months time. So happy to read you have begun your treatment plan. Continue to fight, fight, fight. See you tomorrow, if you are feeling well enough to attend the event! Sending good vibes, thoughts, prayers, strength…and more…
http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-11-2012/fighting-cancer-edie-sundby.html
Hi Ryan and Jen,
We have never met-I was always a bit late responding to the email dinner blasts, and yet I feel ‘part of the group’. Just want to say, cancer is a word that can make you fear or make you pissed. I was both when my now 6 year old grandson was diagnosed just before his 3rd birthday with Medulloblastoma. He is now a happy healthy Kindergartner thank God! But as a grandma and a mom (to his Dad) I know how this disease affects more than the person who is diagnosed. The hardest thing was to be there, yet not be able to fix it for my kids. And not having someone to talk to who understood what I was feeling.
If I can be of support to anyone in your family who just wants someone to talk to whose been through it from the ‘outside’ of treatment, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Barb
Ryan and Jen,
I’ve known about your diagnosis for about two weeks now, and I am still having difficulty finding the right words. Just know that you are in our thoughts every single day. We will be holding a fundraiser for Team HIDI here in Indy, and will get in touch via Greg. Let us know if there is anything we can do for you, and I truly mean anything.
Do what chefs do man. Go to work. Only this time, go to work on getting well.
Staplehouse will be realized.
Sincerely, and with much love from Indiana,
Neal & Lindy B.
I am thinking of you and wishing you much strength as you face this illness and overcome it! Your love for each other is wonderfully obvious and deep.
Peace, love and strength!
Cath
Ryan, get well soon and I know you WILL!! If i can beat this thing so can you, call me lets talk fish, i have a lot of cool things i’m sure you’ll will like. and I promise when softshell crabs start up you will get the first tray. i’m praying for you
All the best
Podge
Ryan & Jen,
Sending prayers for God’s healing hand to touch you both. You are a beautiful couple, stay strong.
Lily
7 year survivor of Stage IV Gallbladder Cancer
Ryan & Jen,
Dameren told us what’s going on. You may be aware that Henry was diagnosed with liver cancer Nov 2007. By spring we were told that while a transplant was the only option for saving his life, Henry “is not now and never will be a liver-transplant candidate”. Well, the good doctor was wrong, the true doctor was in charge. Many prayers later Henry received his life-saving transplant on Sept 2, 2008 and is healthy and strong today. You obviously have the support of so many and your own positive attitudes and love – I am certain that these things will keep alive the hope and faith of healing. We planned to attend the fundraiser but it’s already sold out – good for you!! We’ll send a check instead. Here’s a little prayer I often repeated during our journey; ‘Your way, Your will, Your time Lord’ Stay strong!
Although I haven’t had the honor to meet you I’m praying real hard that you have a speedy recovery.
Keep your chin up and know that we all love you and are pulling for you and your family.
Ryan, [an old Indiana connection checking in]
The Fontaine family lifts you and your family up in prayer. We ask the Lord to guide your doctors and your search for healing. May he wrap his loving arms around you in your journey.
Can’t wait to eat in your restaurant in Atlanta!
Bless you,
da “Mom” fontaine
Ryan and Jen,
My daughter Em and Kara are great friends and I am saddened to hear that you have this fight ahead of you. As I home health nurse, many of my patients were oncolgy patients, so I know the fight you have in front of you.
I know that you are resourcing every bit of info you get on treatment. A couple of places, my patients used when faced with difficult diagnosis:
Cancer Treatment Centers of America®
at Southeastern Regional Medical Center
600 Parkway North
Newnan, GA 30265
770-400-6000
and
Anderson Cancer Center
4700 Waters Avenue Savannah, GA 31404
(912) 350-5101
Ryan:
Greetings from Zionsville (Eagle Elementary days…).
I just learned about your condition and want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you head into this battle. It looks as if you’ve grown into quite an amazing man…I’m not surprised, as the 2nd grade boy was pretty spectacular…and I’m sure you have the strength and ability to beat it. Keep your head up and your outlook positive. You have a great network of supporters…don’t forget to rely on them and use their resources. They want to help you beat this…and you will!
-Ray (Mr. Lahrman)
I concur! For Ferrari printed headphones, they glimpse great. I might possibly never at my life accomplish that glimpse, but I know there are several people out there that might possibly.
Ryan and family,
Although it has been several years and my interaction with you was simply through Jamee and I spying on you and Jeff Brown, my heart goes out to you and your family at this time.
I, too live in Atlanta and would love to help in any way I can. You have a tremendous amount of friends, strangers and family rooting you on.
Remember it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog!
Sincerely all the best,
Sarah
Ryan,
First off, a GIANT HUG from down in Texas, where your ole “Cousin Kim” (Sally’s stepdaughter) sends you love and support. I so agree with the post above from Steve Beshara about the goodness and wellness from the twinkle in your eye. He couldn’t have said it better. I’ll join in with everyone wishing you love and clarity while you explore every option that will carry you to wellness. You were a such a great kid that I can only imagine what a cool guy you are now. Just know we’re fighting for you down in Texas and sending every good thought your way.
Ryan and family,
I just received an email from Star Provisions about you and your situation. While we have never met before and have no knowledge of each other, we are all connected, and therefore, I have the greatest of empathy for you. I have learned a great deal about cancer in recent years as my brother and sister fought breast and kidney cancer. My most profound learning was the power of faith, love and the human spirit to fight, and many times, overcome.
As we all share conscientiousness on this planet, we share the same struggles just as we breathe the same air. It may appear odd – coming from a complete stranger – but I see your goodness and wellness in the tinkle of your eye. So I have great faith in you overcoming this situation.
I’m at a loss of what support I can offer as support (beyond the event) other than prayer and the hand of friendship.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you and your family.
sincerely,
Steve
PS: Let me know if I can offer any professional services to you in the meantime for no cost while you try to maintain some normalcy.
Dear Ryan and Jen, I work for an attorney here in ATL and Anne Quatrano/Cliff Harrison are our clients. I also receive emails from Star Provisions. That is how I found out about your story. I was touched. You see not too long ago, in October 2012, I was sick for 2 months with mystery symptoms. Turns out I had mono and a bad gallbladder. I was lucky… After 4 hospital stays over the course of a month, the doc took out my gallbladder (no cancer) and within a month of its removal, I was back to normal.
I know the road ahead of you is not an easy one, but please know that my prayers are with you both. Judging by comments on this site, so are a lot of other peoples’. Your positive attitude and energy; your friends, your family and your faith are what will get you through this!!! Keep smiling!
Ryan & Jen,
We have not met before, but we wanted you to know that positive energy is being sent to you from central PA in your battle. We could share a few stage 4 cancer survivor stories of friends of ours, but suffice it to say that your positive attitudes and incredible energy to beat this are very important components of the fight. Keep it up and know that we will continue to think of you and pass along positive vibes. We are tentatively planning a trip to Atlanta in the spring and look forward to meeting you during our time there.
- Scott & Roxie Smith (Ryan Smith’s parents)
Dawn,
I just finished reading about your journey. What an amazing story of ups and downs, and such a great ending! Jen and I can’t thank you enough for reaching out and wanting to help. We are so blown away by the support and love of strangers, that it has truly made the way we look at this life. Thank you!
We look forward to meeting you very soon!
Ryan
Ryan, Jen – my name is Dawn, I am a long-time customer of M&T. I am also a Stage IV Colon Cancer Survivor – diagnosed when I was 31, metastisized to my liver and then recurred in my colon. My last diagnosis and surgery for cancer was over 9 years ago. All I can say to you both is–you are NOT a statistic, keep a positive attitude, fight as hard as you possibly can, don’t give up and utilize any resources you have to get the best treatment available. Neil and I will be attending your benefit on January 27th and will continue to help any way we can. My diagnosis and treatment were not as rare as your condition, but I am here if you want to talk. If you have time and want to check out my story, go to: http://www.colonclub.com/the-2013-colondar/april-2013/.
Thoughts, prayers and positive vibes coming your way!
Dawn