HS football star remembered after death from Mona

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. — Days after helping his high school’s football team win a regional championship, a 17-year-old football star died suddenly Saturday of mononucleosis.

Doctors said Ryan Plowman died of an illness due to an underlying condition and medications that interfered with his body’s ability to fight it.

“He also had Crohn’s disease,” said Jennifer Plowman, Ryan’s mother. “They suspect it’s because of the Crohn’s medication that suppressed his immune system.”

Ryan’s parents said he dreamed of going to college and becoming a pharmacist to work and help others.

“That’s what he always wanted to do — help others,” his mother said.

According to Zen Toskas, Ryan’s football coach at Alan B. Shepard High School in Palace Heights, he was one of those rare kids that coaches dream of having on their team.

“He worked hard on and off the field, he was just one of those kids that I said if I had Ryan Plowmans team it would be one of the best experiences a coach could ask for.” , – said Toskas. “He was just one of those souls you were blessed to associate with.”

This Wednesday at 7 p.m., a vigil is planned to be held at the gymnasium

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Arat family with funeral and medical expenses. If you or someone you know is interested in donating, you can visit the page at this address link.