Daily Sitka Sentinel

‘Ryan’s Cookbook’ Has Recipes With Heart

By SHANNON HAUGLAND

Sentinel Staff Writer

A cookbook of healthy recipes initiated by a Sitka man while he was undergoing cancer treatment is already benefiting the community, says Brave Heart Volunteers.

Tamie Parker Song, Brave Heart Volunteers volunteer coordinator, holds a display of “Ryan’s Cookbook.” (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

“Ryan’s Cookbook, Made with Love: Good Food and Gratitude” will be on sale 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, at the Brave Heart Volunteers Sourdough Day on the grounds of the Pioneers Home. The event is a celebration of elders and pioneers, with sourdough pancakes and starter for sale.

Funds raised from cookbook sales will go toward “Ryan’s Fund,” an account set up in honor of the late Ryan Kauffman, with the purpose of improving palliative care and other BHV services in Sitka.

Brave Heart hosted a book launch party about a month ago for Kauffman’s caregiving community with a reception featuring food made from some of the recipes in the colorful 56-page paperback volume. The book has been available for sale since then in the Brave Heart office in the Pioneers Home Manager’s House.

“It’s an ongoing fundraiser,” said Lily Herwald, BHV interim executive director. “The purpose is to further community education on grief and bereavement, quality palliative care and how to be a friend in grief.”

Ryan’s wife, Kristen Green, and his family set up the fund for those wanting to make donations in Ryan’s memory after his death in November 2015 at age 38. The recipes came from his friends and caregivers, with a focus on Alaska ingredients, healthy meals, some of the flavors that Ryan liked and a nod to his sweet tooth.

About $9,500 has been raised between donations and book sales, with some of the funds already spent to help send a home health worker at Sitka Community Hospital to a training on end of life nursing, Herwald said.

The idea for the cookbook came from Ryan, who worked with Jesuit Volunteer Taylor Ciambra to create design concepts and match recipes with his art.

Ryan was a talented illustrator and artist, who continued making pen-and- ink drawings for friends and other visitors while he was sick. His aunt, Kim Wagner, continued working to complete the book after Ryan’s death, adding photos and expanding the collection to a 56-page volume.

“They’re nurturing, certainly, healthy recipes  –  recipes that used local foods, and comfort food, too,” Herwald said.

Salads, breads, desserts, soups, main courses and snacks all made it into the collection, and one can visualize his caregiving community while reading through the recipes: Ryan’s friend Jeff Budd contributed his own version of Ambrosia, Davey’s Salmon Chowder was added by friend and fellow wildlife boat skipper Davey Lubin; and his friend and baker Ann Fitzmaurice put in her Yummo Rhubarb Muffins.

A list of names and a collection of portraits at the end of the book capture the more than a hundred “meal makers” and “caregivers” who were part of Ryan’s life.

BHV is dedicated to using the funds raised from the cookbook sales and other donations to Ryan’s Fund on the priorities Ryan’s family set out.

“Ryan gave us a gift and taught us how much more we can do to improve things,” Herwald said.

While many associate palliative care with pain management and end-of-life care, Brave Heart and many other organizations see it as treatment of the whole individual, as well as their loved ones and families, and focused on optimizing quality of life.

“Palliative care means patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering,” BHV said in its mission and values statement. “Palliative care throughout the continuum of illness involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information and choice.”

Herwald said the need for good palliative care is being recognized throughout the country, with 96 percent of teaching hospitals featuring palliative care teams.

“The great thing that Ryan’s Fund is doing is recognizing it’s not just one organization, it’s community working together,” she said. “Palliative care services can be provided concurrently, with curative care. It really comes down to: It allows people to have dignity and choices through the living and dying process.”

The books are available for $15 on Saturday, at Sourdough Day, and in the Brave Heart office, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. The 

Saturday event offers free pancakes to those over 70 years old, and for sale to those younger. It will also be a chance to hear elders’ stories, BHV said. Those with questions may call 747-4600.