My brother Ryan was a happy, adventurous kid. He was my little brother by four years, and I was always very protective of him! Whether he was skiing, skateboarding, surfing, or playing any other kind of sport, he was fearless with a zest for life.He was caring, kind,and loved his family and friends very much. Anyone who knew Ryan well could tell you a lot about his laugh. It was unique, and made people smile. Ryan was tall and strong with big, broad shoulders that he inherited from our dad. It ishard to think that adrug could take the life from this strong, healthy body. Ryan was NOT a "druggie." He was simply a young kidwho was experimenting, which most of us have done in one way or another. Ryan hurt his back playing basketball and was given a pain reliever patch. Ryan did not know the strength of this patch or the deadliness of it, especially when mixed with alcohol. On the morning of March 10, 2005 when most of us were already going through the motions of our busy day, my brother was never to awake from his very deep sleep. God decided to take him to Heaven that morning. In the past two years, my family and I havedelt withsheer horror and griefthat most couldnever understand. We ask ourselves and each other, "When is this going to get easier?" Because it hasn't. We miss our Ryan so much. It is still so raw, so new, so heartbreaking. Ryan is my angel, he is the happiest he has ever been, and he is smiling down on all of us each and every day. Drugs took my brother's life, but not a day will EVER go by when I do not think of him with an everlasting love.