Healing Across America Begins Here

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – A local grandmother-grandson duo, famous for visiting all 63 national parks, will be kicking off a nationwide book tour this weekend at the John McIntire Library. 

Grandma Joy Ryan and her Grandson Brad Ryan, who are from Duncan Falls, were estranged family members 11-years-ago when they packed up to explore The Great Smoky Mountains. The adventure they shared built a bond and fashioned a new way of thinking that permanently altered the direction they had been travelling only a week before.  

“The book is called ‘Grandma Joy and Me, A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time,’” Brad said. “And the book actually begins in a really dark chapter of my life. So I was a fourth year veterinary student at The Ohio State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. And if readers aren’t familiar, they’re going to learn in this book that veterinary medicine is unfortunately high on the list of professions that are prone to suicide and suicidal ideation. So I was in a really dark place at that point in my life.”

Brad shared his need to escape life’s burdens with his then, 85-year-old grandmother, who had never seen the mountains or slept in a tent.

“Well, I guess I got tired of just sitting on the front porch crocheting,” Joy said. “So I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll do that. Let’s give it a whirl.’ So that’s what we did and it was really great. Of course that might have stopped the whole thing because it was pouring down rain and I was holding the umbrella over Brad while he put the tent together. But everything turned out.”

63 national parks and five continents later, Brad has authored a book journaling their travels and the insights their shared experiences have brought them. 

At 96 and 45, the Ryans’ are about to embark on a 50-state book-tour, titled ‘Healing Across America,’ that will begin 1:00 p.m. this Saturday, at the John McIntire Library. You will have the opportunity to meet the duo and purchase a signed, early release version of their book.  

You can find more information about Grandma Joy’s Roadtrip online.