SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. – , a Spokane County employee, is facing termination due to an ongoing medical absence.
Becker, who has been unable to work since January, received a Medical Loudermill letter as he deals with a rare medical condition.
His medical leave began following a joyful moment—the birth of his child.
Shortly after, his health took a turn. “I fully believed Wednesday and Thursday night that I wasn’t waking up in the morning,” Becker said.
Becker is battling , a rare skin-eating condition.
“I feel weak, exhausted, anxious. It’s a lot of pain and it’s a lot of weakness,” he stated.
Despite the challenges, Becker is undergoing experimental treatment with Tremfya.
He shared, “The biggest surprise for me with the Tremfya has been how well I feel after I get. I was not expecting to actually to start to feel better.”
Becker travels to Portland every two weeks for treatment.
However, his absence from work led to the termination notice.
“He’s seeking to rescind that approval and terminate my position,” he said regarding his employer’s decision.
The letter cited Becker’s exhaustion of most short-term benefits.
Though his coverage continues through September, he worries about future security.
“I want to continue to be able to provide that service to this incredible community that has rallied around us,” Becker emphasized.
He and his union are fighting to keep his job, with discussions planned with the county this week.
Mikkel Becker, Ryan’s wife, expressed the family’s stance, “We want a peaceful outcome to this. We aren’t asking for anything other than his basic rights.”
If Becker loses his job, paying for medical coverage out-of-pocket may be necessary.
“If I don’t have medical insurance, the chances of me dying go up exponentially,” Becker said.
The county could not comment on employee personnel but stated they follow federal law.
Mikkel added, “even though this really sucks, and I feel like we’ve been attacked as a family and Ryan as an individual, I still feel like people are good.”
A petition calling for the county to keep Becker on unpaid medical leave has gained traction, with over a thousand signatures.
Becker hopes the commissioners see beyond numbers, stating, “If they look at our family as more than just a budget number, I don’t think that it becomes a hard decision for them.”
