A tiny baby boy by the name of Ryan was born several weeks early.
Because of this, he had to travel to a big hospital where special
doctors could fix his small heart. His parents were worried and wanted
him to feel courage when he had to stay at the hospital alone. They knew
that lions were courageous and so they decided to buy him a little
stuffed lion and call it "Ryan’s Lion." Ryan’s parents searched through
all the toy stores to find a small lion, but they could find only
bunnies and bears.  After a while, they gave up the hope of getting a
toy lion for Ryan.

One day, they were very surprised to receive a package containing a
worn and ragged stuffed lion.  It had been sent by Ryan’s aunt, who
lived in a distant state and had heard of the need for a fearless lion. 
She knew this lion was perfect for Ryan because she had already been
given its strength when she had felt sad and lonely, being away from her
family.Before it was hers, the lion had belonged to the aunt’s boss,
who had needed courage while going through a painful divorce.

With this little lion, Ryan now could feel courage as he braved heart
surgery and recovered in his hospital crib.  And when he felt a little
better, Ryan took his lion home to share with his family. As his parents
watched Ryan progress, they eventually felt that their family could
bear to part with the little lion and share its courage with others. 
They decided to send it to Ryan’s small cousin, who needed strength
while waiting for a heart transplant.

But Ryan’s Lion stayed with the little cousin for only a short time. 
Even though he fought to live, the cousin just got sicker and sicker,
and he died before he could get a new heart. The parents of this small
boy were heartbroken.  They were now the ones who needed the courage of
Ryan’s Lion.  They cradled it in their arms and sadly took the lion
home. Ryan’s Lion now became a special beacon for the parents. Every
day, they looked at Ryan’s Lion and thought of their sweet son. They
also thought of Ryan, and of all those who had suffered before. The lion
reminded them that others had been given courage and had overcome their
great afflictions.When the parents held the little lion, they felt a
bit of confidence and a growing hope.  Like the others before them, they
felt they must try to be courageous while waiting for healing and
acceptance to come to them.

After many months of receiving strength from Ryan’s Lion, the parents
heard that a young woman was struggling to leave her family to serve as
a missionary for her church.  Even though they didn’t want to give up
Ryan’s Lion, the parents knew how much courage it would give to others,
and they decided to give it to the young woman. So the young woman took
Ryan’s Lion with her, and it gave her courage as she shared her faith
with others.  When she returned home, she gave Ryan’s Lion to another
friend who also needed strength as a missionary in a foreign country.

After that, Ryan’s Lion was passed on again and again.  The lion was
given to a father and mother whose child was born with a serious birth
defect, to a couple whose baby suddenly became very sick and died, to a
young girl whose family wouldn’t support her religious beliefs, to a
dying grandfather in the hospital, and to a young woman who was
struggling with her self-worth. Once they could part with Ryan’s Lion,
each of these people gave it to someone who also needed strength.  Every
person who held Ryan’s Lion became a little braver, a bit more giving,
and a littler stronger inside.  And each person understood that part of
the magic of a ragged, stuffed lion was found in passing it on.

The baby Ryan grew to be a boy with a big heart. His sweet
personality touched all he met. And sometimes, he talked about his heart
surgery and proudly revealed the long scar on the side of his chest.

The story of his lion will never end.  Ryan’s Lion will continue to
give courage to all who hold it, feel its strength, and pass it on.

-by Fran, mother of Devin

Note: Lions 245, 246, 247, 248, 249 and 250 were donated in honor of the 18th anniversary of Devin's birth. 

Lions 463, 464, 465, 466, 467 were also purchased and distributed by Devin's family.