The Lump Was Just the Tip of the Iceberg

A Father’s Integrative Journey Through Pediatric Cancer

By the time Ryan Sternagel’s wife felt the lump on their baby’s back, their world had already begun to shift.

Ryder was just eleven months old. He had stopped crawling. He could not tolerate solid food. His growth had fallen sharply. And now there was something beneath his skin that should not be there.

Doctors told them not to worry.

Within weeks, they were told it was Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a rare cancer of the nervous system that had already spread throughout Ryder’s spine and into his hips.

The lump they felt was just the tip of the iceberg.

What followed was not simply a medical journey. It was a reckoning. A confrontation with fear, systems, intuition, and the deeper meaning of healing itself.

This is Ryder’s story and the story of the thousands of families now helped by the path his parents chose.

When Something Feels Wrong

Ryder’s first months looked normal.

Then things quietly shifted.

He fell off the growth chart.
He stopped crawling.
He struggled with solid foods.
He became severely constipated.

Each concern was brushed aside. Doctors suggested therapy. They said children develop at their own pace.

But Ryan and his wife knew something was wrong.

They pushed for imaging. An ultrasound revealed internal masses. An MRI followed.

The scan was supposed to take forty five minutes. It lasted nearly two hours.

When the doctor returned, she was crying.

The tumors were extensive. A primary mass was growing out of Ryder’s spine. Secondary tumors had spread through his nervous system and into his hip bones.

It was Stage 4.

The Collision of Two Worlds

Doctors immediately urged chemotherapy and long term hospital care. They wanted Ryder transferred by ambulance to begin treatment.

Ryan and his wife said no.

They wanted time. They wanted understanding. They wanted a second opinion.

They began researching integrative and holistic cancer care, nutritional therapies, intravenous nutrients, detoxification, and metabolic support. They ordered supplements. They connected with integrative cancer specialists.

Before they could leave the system, Ryder became septic from a bloodstream infection caused by a hospital line.

The family returned to the hospital. This time with no choice.

They consented to chemotherapy.

But they did not abandon their questions.

Healing Is Not One Size Fits All

Ryan and his wife asked the oncology team one simple question.

What are you measuring?

They were told four rounds of chemotherapy were standard. The doctors outlined the tumor reduction markers they hoped to see.

Ryan asked what if we reach those markers sooner.

They said it had never happened.

Ryan requested a scan after two rounds.

They reluctantly agreed.

The results surpassed expectations.

Still, the hospital changed the protocol. First extending to four rounds, then eight, and discussing radiation.

That was the moment Ryan and his wife realized this was not about Ryder. It was about the protocol.

They moved their family to Utah, where personal liberty and integrative medicine were more accessible.

After four rounds, they stopped.

They chose a wait and see approach. Measuring. Scanning. Observing. Adjusting.

The tumors continued shrinking.

Today, only residual scar tissue remains.

Ryder Today

Doctors once said Ryder might never walk.

Today he skis, mountain bikes, and practices jiu jitsu.

He lives fully.

He is eleven years cancer free.

Beyond Cancer Healing the Whole Child

Ryder later developed neurological symptoms after repeated anesthesia, contrast agents, and heavy metal exposure.

He was diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

His parents doubled down on detoxification, gut healing, cellular membrane support, and nervous system restoration.

They focused on

Juicing and nutrient saturation
Cellular membrane repair
Heavy metal detox
Mineral repletion
Gut health restoration
Reducing toxic exposures
Spiritual grounding and prayer

Ryder is now thriving, quirky, brilliant, and full of life.

The Power of Prayer and Intention

Throughout Ryder’s journey, thousands of people prayed for him.

Ryan believes this was foundational.

Healing was not only physical.
It was emotional.
It was spiritual.

Faith, intention, and community became pillars of their resilience.

From Survival to Service

Ryan and his wife began documenting their journey to help other families.

That mission became

The Stern Method
Going Integrative Plus
A global integrative cancer education platform

Today, families can ask top integrative oncologists questions weekly. They can learn, measure, and make informed decisions for themselves.

The Philosophy That Changed Everything

Healing is not a protocol.
It is a relationship.
With your body.
With intuition.
With truth.

Ryder’s story reminds us

You do not need to choose sides.
You need to choose awareness.

Because the moment you begin participating in your healing, everything changes.