Ryan “Bubba” Slothower
August 8, 1979 – June 14, 2007
Our son Ryan “Bubba” Slothower was diagnosed at a very early age as high functioning with moderate “developmental disabilities”. Developmental disabilities (DD) are birth defects related to a problem with how a body part or body system works. Frequently, people with mental retardation, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, various genetic and chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome and Fragile X syndrome, are described as having developmental disabilities (DD) or delays.
Ryan was a very happy young man with a great sense of humor, whose laughter warmed the hearts of those around him. Ryan’s life was simple and it was the little things that mattered most and would make him so happy…like “all the babies are home” (Ryan’s term when all three of our children were home at the same time), playing with his collection of keys, yellow pads of paper, watching his favorite TV show COPS and listening to the Beach Boys.
Ryan was living and thriving in Santa Barbara on a campus based community called Devereux where he went to school and worked various jobs, both on campus and out in the community. We then learned that Ryan’s program in Santa Barbara was closing down in 2005 and the only option available for Ryan was a supported living program. My wife had always expressed her concerns for a supported living situation for Ryan and young adults with disabilities as she believed there was more potential for abuse than the traditional campus and dorm room setting that Devereux offered our son in Santa Barbara.
Little did we know that our greatest fears would become a reality on June 3, 2007. We received the call that is every parent’s nightmare…that call you feel in the pit of your stomach…that call, which changes your life forever. I still remember that call as though it were yesterday and I still hear the terror in my wife’s voice as she yelled to me that Ryan was hurt. “We would later learn the details of that day and discover that a man whom we trusted to watch over our son inflicted great bodily harm upon him without cause. Harm that is never justified, necessary or allowed in supported living situations.” After a valiant fight, Ryan died in my arms 11 days later as he was removed from his life support system. I told the doctor and nurses “I held Ryan when he came into this world and that I was going to hold him as he left this world”. I held Ryan in my arms and told him how proud I was of him, how much I loved him and how desperately I wished that God would take me instead. As his breathing began to fade I held him closer to me, kissed him and lay next to him until his final breath. June 14, 2007, a day my family’s life was changed forever; I lost “my pal” at the tender age of 27 and a part of our family that made us whole.
Through some truly incredible friendships the “Bubba Cup” golf tournament was created to honor Ryan and celebrate his short but memorable life. What started the first few years as a small group of amazing friends honoring our son, has transformed into the Ryan’s Keys Foundation and the “Bubba Cup” charitable golf tournament raising funds for organizations that work with children and adults with developmental disabilities (DD) and autism while creating awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders.
In 2010, the first Bubba Cup Charity Golf Tournament was created and in seven short years the support behind this tournament has been overwhelming raising over $305,000 for wonderful organizations like Southside Art Center, Lilliput Families and Treehouse Inc. It is your continued support and friendship that really makes it a very rewarding yet emotional day. Your generosity and participation is greatly appreciated and words can’t express properly how much it means to our family.
In 2012, the newly formed RYAN’S KEYS FOUNDATION “Opening Doors for Children and Adults with Disabilities” became active in raising funds for various charities that work and assist children and adults with autism and developmental disabilities.
Follow Us!