In the autumn of 2012, a regular school day turned into an unthinkable tragedy for one Ontario family—a tragedy that would go on to transform asthma policy across an entire province.

Ryan Gibbons, a bright and energetic 12-year-old boy from Ontario, Canada, loved motorbikes, hiking, and playing soccer with friends. But Ryan also had asthma—a condition that millions manage daily with the help of a small but vital device: an inhaler.

On October 9, Ryan walked into Elgin County School, a Grade 7 student just beginning the day like any other. But that day, Ryan would never walk out.

While playing soccer during recess, Ryan suddenly began to experience an asthma attack. His friends, familiar with his condition, rushed to help. They tried to carry him to the principal’s office, where his inhaler—his only line of defense—was locked away, inaccessible in a critical moment.

They didn’t make it in time. Ryan collapsed. He never regained consciousness.

The heartbreaking event sparked outrage and grief, not just in the local community but across the nation. Investigations revealed that Ryan had not been permitted to carry his inhaler on him during school hours due to a school policy that required all medications to be kept in the office. Despite having a doctor’s note and his mother Sandra Gibbons’ numerous appeals, the rule remained firm.

Sandra recounted the countless times the school had confiscated spare inhalers Ryan brought in his backpack. “You would give him an inhaler,” she told CBC, “but then he would get caught with the inhaler and then it would be taken away.” What frustrated her most was that the school was only following a policy she hadn’t even been fully aware of—that all prescribed medications had to be stored in the office.

It was a policy that, in Ryan’s case, proved deadly.

But Sandra Gibbons was not willing to let her son’s death be in vain. Fueled by grief, she turned her pain into purpose. In the wake of the tragedy, she began a petition demanding legislative change. She teamed up with Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament Jeff Yurek, who introduced a private member’s bill aimed at allowing children to carry their inhalers at school.

Sandra’s fight wasn’t easy, but her determination paid off.

In 2015, the Ontario legislature unanimously passed Bill 135, known as “Ryan’s Law.” The law requires all Ontario schools to permit students with asthma to carry their inhalers at all times—provided there is a physician’s note on file.

“I’m definitely overwhelmed, very emotional, very happy it’s going to be implemented,” Sandra said after the bill’s passing. The Asthma Society of Canada and other advocacy groups applauded the legislation, with Dr. Rob Oliphant, the Society’s president at the time, emphasizing the importance of immediate access to life-saving medication.

Since then, Ryan’s story has echoed beyond Canadian borders, raising awareness of a broader problem. In the United States, although every state has laws permitting students to carry inhalers, enforcement remains inconsistent. Some schools continue to restrict access under strict anti-drug policies, putting children with asthma at risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 10 people in the United States die from asthma-related complications each day. While overall asthma death rates have decreased over the past decade, most fatalities are considered preventable—with timely access to an inhaler being one of the most crucial factors.

Ryan Gibbons’ death was not only a personal loss but also a public wake-up call. His mother’s advocacy has saved countless lives since, offering families the peace of mind that children can carry the medical tools they need—tools that could mean the difference between life and death.

“When Ryan passed away, it was like losing everything that I lived for,” Sandra said. “But I knew it was a preventable attack. If people had appropriate training and knew what to look for when a child was in distress, he would be here today.”

Today, Ryan is remembered not just as the boy who loved adventure, but as the child whose legacy rewrote the rules and protected others. His mother’s courage turned heartbreak into hope, and through Ryan’s Law, her son’s voice continues to speak—for every child with asthma, and every parent who fears they might not be able to protect them.

Let us never forget Ryan. Let his story serve as a reminder, a warning, and most importantly—a catalyst for continued change.