{"id":306105,"date":"2026-06-13T04:57:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T04:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306105\/"},"modified":"2026-06-13T04:57:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T04:57:08","slug":"golisano-team-pulls-together-so-mariner-grad-can-walk-the-walk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/306105\/","title":{"rendered":"Golisano team pulls together so Mariner grad can walk the walk"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Ryan Hunter is ready for his transport by and from Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital to Alico Arena for Mariner\u2019s graduation. Hunter experienced a spontaneous pneumothorax \u2014 collapsed lung \u2014 while at a scholarship presentation. The hospital\u2019s team made it possible for him to \u201cwalk\u201d at his graduation. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Ryan Hunter is ready for his transport by and from Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital to Alico Arena for Mariner\u2019s graduation. Hunter experienced a spontaneous pneumothorax \u2014 collapsed lung \u2014 while at a scholarship presentation. The hospital\u2019s team made it possible for him to \u201cwalk\u201d at his graduation. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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Ryan Hunter is ready for his transport by and from Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital to Alico Arena for Mariner\u2019s graduation. Hunter experienced a spontaneous pneumothorax \u2014 collapsed lung \u2014 while at a scholarship presentation. The hospital\u2019s team made it possible for him to \u201cwalk\u201d at his graduation. PROVIDED<\/p>\n

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A community came together to help one Mariner High School senior meet what should have been an effortless goal: To walk across the stage and receive his diploma at graduation.<\/p>\n

A medical emergency made it anything but easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cGraduating was already so special, but after recently being in the hospital with a collapsed lung, being able to walk across that stage meant even more to me. I\u2019m grateful to everyone that worked together to make this opportunity a reality,\u201d\u00a0Ryan\u00a0Hunter\u00a0said.<\/p>\n

On May 26,\u00a0Ryan\u00a0attended the Rotary Club Scholarship Banquet as an honoree. While there, his lung quietly collapsed \u2013 spontaneous pneumothorax.<\/p>\n

His mother, Tamara \u201cJoy\u201d\u00a0Hunter, a Golden Apple 2023 teacher, said they went to the hospital as a precaution, and doctors confirmed the collapse. He had a chest tube insertion to remove the trapped air, while also helping to re-inflate his lung.<\/p>\n

A second procedure was done to clip blebs \u2014 weak spots \u2014 at the top of his lung. This was done as a prevention. Blebs can form in rapidly growing lungs and may cause air leaks, his mother said, and are more common in tall, slim young people because their body grows quickly and the lungs can develop fragile areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Golisano Children\u2019s Hospital offered to transport\u00a0Ryan\u00a0to graduation so he could walk across the stage with his classmates before he had to continue his recovery at the hospital. During graduation,\u00a0Ryan\u00a0attended with a portable chest tube drainage system \u201cproudly by his side,\u201d Joy said.<\/p>\n

His chest tube has been removed, and on that day, he was determined to take his final Cambridge test at Mariner High School.<\/p>\n

Joy encourages parents to listen to their children \u2014- if they say their chest hurts, have shortness of breath, or something feels off \u2014- to listen, as early attention can make all the difference.<\/p>\n

Ryan\u00a0will attend the University of Florida to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n

His accomplishments include tennis captain, tennis MVP, AAU Volleyball Regional Champion, state bowling finalist, and principal\u2019s captain table. He was sixth in his class, an AICE Cambridge honor, Vet Tech Assistant Certified, Full Bright Futures Scholarship, and USF Merit Director\u2019s Scholarship.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe completes scholarships like a part-time job because he plans to complete his degree in veterinary medicine debt free,\u201d Joy said. \u201cThe local village has truly blessed him with scholarships: Cape Coral Mayor\u2019s 4-year scholarship, Quality Life Center, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Rotary Club, Franklin Park Elementary, Mariner Principal\u2019s Choice, Collaboratory, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc to name a few.\u201d<\/p>\n

A scholarship is being established \u2014\u00a0the HunterStrong Scholarship \u2014 to support and empower young people who have overcome significant challenges with resilience, determination, and a positive mindset.<\/p>\n


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