On December 7, 2010, firefighters from the “Hot Corner” Engine 155, and Ladder 78 in New Brighton, Staten Island, will arrive to Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) to deliver toys to the children of the hospital in honor of their fallen brother, Lt. Bobby Ryan.
On November 23, 2008, Lt. Robert Ryan heroically lost his life while operating at a 2nd Alarm fire at
39 Van Buren St.
, in the
New Brighton neighborhood of
Staten Island. He was more than a hero of the FDNY for more than 19 years; he was also a hero to children across
Staten Island.
Just two days before Ryan’s death On November 21, 2008, Lt. Bobby Ryan notified the staff at
SIUH
Jerome
Finkelstein
Regional
Burn Center
that he was coming in on December 18
th to bring toys to the children of the burn center, with him would be the firefighters from Engine 155, and Ladder 78.
Ryan began what is now a tradition 3 years earlier after suffering burns in a house fire in Brooklyn in 2006. The brave firefighter was severely burned after his protective helmet melted from the extreme temperature, landing him in the burn center.
During Lt. Ryan’s treatment at the Burn Center, he was surprised to see how many children the center treated, “Eight out of every ten beds were children” said Lt. Ryan in a 2006 interview, Ryan said he was awed by the professionalism and compassion he witnessed at the burn center” Your family is under stress when a loved one in burned, whether it’s a child, toddler or an adult, they care for the whole family when you are there.”
Ryan made it his mission to put a smile on all the children of the burn center. The Lt. Ryan toy drive has become an annual event for the children of the burn center with the help of Ryan’s comrades.
In 2006 Ryan came to SIUH with a truck full of toys and $8,000 geared towards pediatric burns at SIUH.
Since his death, there has been a huge outpouring of support to continue the work that Lt. Ryan started.
They toys collected for the Lt. Robert Ryan will be delivered to Staten Island University Hospital at 11:30 a.m. in the I.T. Solutions Conference Room on the second floor of the Heart Tower at Staten Island University Hospital, 475 Seaview Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305.