Ryan was born in Portland, OR on April 7, 1992.  He was 3 months premature and almost died after delivery.  He was kept in neonatal intensive care until he was able to breathe on his own.

Ryan came home to the Owens family in the summer of 1995.  He was adopted along with his brother Gabe and sister Amanda, and joined Jim, Teri and sister Ally at their home in the country near Battle Ground, WA.