Without Restraint

How Skiing Saved My Son's Life

By: Robert C. DeLena, Ryan C. DeLena

Narrated by: Alex Boyles, Tim Getman

As a child Ryan DeLena had difficulty controlling his emotional outbursts. This led to placement in therapeutic schools that relied on detrimental methods of behavior modification such as physical restraints.

Nothing helped from a team of doctors to heavy medication. Then in 2010, Ryan was voluntarily committed to a mental hospital for further evaluation. His parents Rob and Mary Beth were counseled to place him in a group home. They refused.

Two years earlier, after an impulsive decision Rob had to take Ryan skiing, he discovered a different child than the version experts were so sure about. By his second day of skiing, Ryan was executing advanced runs, and with each conquest in the winters that followed, Rob began to question the path laid for his son by the professionals paid to judge him. He later convinced Mary Beth to fight the medical and educational complexes over Ryan’s care and school placement, and together they fostered the freedom Ryan needed to pursue his dream of becoming a professional ski mountaineer.

Written in two voices, Without Restraint is a joint father-son memoir told with both pain and levity, struggle and strength, adventure and heart. It is the story of a misunderstood boy, a father’s growth, and a shared love of the outdoors that formed their unbreakable bond.

©2023 Robert DeLena and Ryan DeLena (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

You Never Gave Up!

What an incredible story from the perspective of father and son. The
courage,determination and strength of the parents for never giving up and especially to Rob for discovering Ryan’s gift!
Ryan you have an incredible talent and story! How proud your parents must be of you! A fantastic read! All public school Special Education and Department of Children and Family Services need to read this testimony! Riveting to the core!

Like my own son

My own son has autism and name is also Ryan he has also been through most of the things Ryan went through in the book

Great listen. Couldn’t stop. Finished in 2 days.

As a new father, I really appreciated Robert’s open and honest descriptions of the lessons he learned. I grew up skiing and could relate to some of feelings they described on their trips. Ryan’s journey is amazing and so glad they wrote this book.