When he had a big surgery in Baltimore in 1997, the family first stopped by the White House, where Hillary Clinton gave them an 90-minute tour and they were able to see the president as well.

Hillary Clinton presented Ryan with a signed, enlarged photo of her holding him at that 1994 press conference.

“She said, ‘I want you to hang this poster in your hospital room tomorrow because then I know you’ll get the best health care possible,’ ” he said. “We thought that was pretty funny.”

She would always send a note when he was about to have surgery to offer encouragement and lift his spirits, he said.

“Hillary has just never forgotten about our friendship,” he said. “It’s just been a really special bond and something that we’re really thankful for.”

He said that he agrees with Hillary Clinton’s position during the primary campaign that much progress has been made on health care, including the health care law passed under President Barack Obama, and the best approach is to build on that.