My name is Jillayn Davis, and I created Grief Connections in memory of my son, Ryan Michael
O'Rourke.

Ryan was killed in a motorcycle accident after completing his first week of college at the
University of Wisconsin–Stout. He was on his way to work Sunday morning when he was
involved in an accident while coming out of a construction zone. His motorcycle came into
contact with a car, causing him to be ejected from his bike. Ryan died instantly.
I only tell you those details to say this: Ryan was then struck by another vehicle, which was
carrying three college students from his school.

We live in Arizona, and the news of the accident did not reach us quickly. Ryan died at 9:37
a.m., but we were not notified until sometime after 5:00 that evening, our time.

Our youngest daughter, Lauren, was actually the first to realize that something was wrong. She
had not heard from Ryan and noticed on Snap Map that he had not moved and was not quite to
work. Her husband began researching and found a report about the accident. Through that
information, they were able to determine that the person involved was Ryan.
That was the beginning of a journey none of us ever expected to take—a journey through
shock, heartbreak, unanswered questions, and a grief that changed our family forever.