Santa Barbara Firefighters Rally Behind Captain’s Family After Daughter’s Cancer Diagnosis

The Santa Barbara County Firefighters Benevolent Foundation has come together to support Captain Ryan Thomas and his family during a health crisis.

Captain Thomas’s 15-year-old daughter, Rylee, was recently admitted to Valley Children’s Hospital after her parents noticed something was not right, the firefighter’s foundation wrote on a social media post on November 7, 2025. 

Doctors diagnosed Rylee with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She is currently receiving care at the hospital, where doctors are completing testing and finalizing her treatment plan, the Benevolent Foundation said. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The organization is appealing to the community and raising funds for the Thomas family as they navigate through this trying time. The family will utilize the donations for medical expenses, travel, and other costs related to extended hospital care, according to the foundation. 

The organization is aiming to raise $50,000 and has raised $23,324 so far, according to the fundraising page. A total of 142 people have donated so far. 

“Any amount, large or small, will make a real difference and remind this remarkable family that they’re not facing this fight alone,” the Benevolent Foundation wrote on Instagram. 

Despite the difficult news, Rylee has been a pillar of support for her family and shown extraordinary courage, the Benevolent Foundation said. She has been lifting her family’s spirits and has been optimistic in every step.

“Her strength and grace are exactly what her dad, Captain Thomas, has modeled for years in service to our community—and now it’s our turn to serve them,” the organization said.  

The Santa Barbara County Firefighters Benevolent Foundation was established to provide financial assistance for firefighters and their families, according to its website. 

The foundation offers financial help to children of deceased firefighters, creates and maintains a firefighter’s memorial, and creates ways to receive contributions for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

What is Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is part of our immune system and helps protect our body from disease and infection. The cancer causes the abnormal growth of cells in the lymphatic system. 

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is rare in children under age five. However, it is the most common type of cancer to be diagnosed among teens aged between 15 and 19, according to the American Cancer Society. 

While the cause of the disease is unknown, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is highly treatable and often curable, according to Mayo Clinic. Treatments include chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, bone marrow transplant, and clinical trials.