Ave Maria Living Magazine | Issue # 2 | October 2016

When she got there, her water
broke. She was only 24 weeks
pregnant. She had an emergency
C-section and a man at the
hospital, who was not even a
doctor, fashioned a mask small
enough for their new baby out of
materials he found in the kitchen.
Thanks to him, baby Rylan was able
to breathe until they could be
transferred to a hospital with a
neonatal ICU. Mrs. McQuade was
unconscious for three days.
Thankfully, the two survived
without any lasting complications.
Now, Rylan, 24, has just begun his
second year of medical school, is
newly engaged to be married, and
aspires to use his gifts and training
on medical missions.
Three brothers followed Rylan into
the world: Curran, 22; Hadyn, 19;
and Eamon, 17. While the young
family was just about to set down
roots in Texas? as the builders
broke ground on their new
home? two airplanes struck the
twin towers on September 11, 2001
and their plans instantly changed.
Mr. McQuade had started working
for American Airlines and was part
of the U.S. Air Force Reserves at
the time and was immediately
called to fly around New York and
Washington D.C., protecting the
area from any potential threats.
The Air Force had planes in the air
24 hours a day for over a year.
The family found a home in New
Jersey that was move-in ready, so
they packed their things and moved
sight unseen.
?People were so gracious and
understanding during the time
after 9/11. We got our money back,?
Mrs. McQuade said of their home in
Texas.
A little over a year later, they
moved back to Texas and Mr.
McQuade continued flying for
American Airlines. But in 2003, the
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