The First Ryan’s Lion –
Written by Lynnae, mother of Ryan. Ryan Allred is the founder of the Ryan’s Lion Organization
On a dreary Valentine’s Day in 1992, I stood in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit watching my four-pound baby struggle to breathe. Ryan had made his appearance nearly two months early, and the days of worry were beginning to take their toll. I have since said that the “urge” to hold a baby is hard-wired into every mother, but because we could not risk disturbing the tangle of wires and monitors that were keeping him alive, I had to content myself with touching his feet and stroking his miniature hands. There was just no way to satisfy that aching need to wrap him up in my arms.
It is not the way I had envisioned spending Valentine’s Day, so weary of being in the hospital, I decided to take a little break to go and find a small gift for my little son. I had a great idea. I would go and find a small, stuffed lion, hang a sign around its neck that said, “Ryan’s Lion,” and put it near the isolette where he was resting and fighting for his life. A lion symbolized all that I sensed in this little boy’s fighting will to breathe, grow, and be strong. I needed a lion because of what it represented to me: COURAGE.
But there were no lions to be found. I searched several department stores, and although teddy bears and dogs were plentiful, I went back to the hospital empty-handed and a little bit discouraged. Only a few days later, a package arrived in the mail, addressed to Ryan. Inside was a stuffed lion with a note from his Aunt:
“Your mom mentioned in her last letter that she and grandma had been looking for a stuffed lion, and that they had been having a hard time finding one. Well, wouldn’t you know that I just happened to have one, and had been looking for someone special to give it to?
“You see, this lion has been all over the country. He comes with a legacy. This lion (like the one from the Wizard of Oz) has been passed from friend to friend to friend to help give them courage to do difficult things in their lives. A friend of mine gave it to me last summer when I moved away to Texas. It was given to her when she was going through a painful divorce.
“I don’t need him any more, but you do, Ryan. Take him, hug him tight, use all his courage, and grow up big and strong. Then, if someday, you find that you don’t need him any more, pass him on.
“XOXOXO,
Aunt Marilee
Ryan when he finally came home from the hospital weighing about 5 pounds. His lion dwarfed him at the time.
That little lion became a tangible reminder of the love and concern others had for us. It represented the fact that although they were helpless to do anything but hope and pray, our family and friends were there to replenish our dwindling supply of optimism and fortitude. I learned from that experience that one of the most valuable lessons to be learned from adversity is the fact that it teaches us empathy, and increases our effectiveness at reaching out to others who are hurting. I came to know that even suffering is not entirely coincidental in the great plan of life. Sometimes we experience grief because it puts us in a position to be a support to others. Ryan eventually required heart surgery to save his life. While he was recovering from his surgery, we had our first opportunity to pass on a Ryan’s Lion to someone else. A baby boy named Devin, was born to my cousin Fran and her husband Dave the same day Ryan was admitted to the hospital for his heart surgery. Devin lived only three weeks, but that was long enough for his little spirit to impact the lives of everyone who was associated with him. (Read more about Devin by clicking here).
Ryan grew up to be a healthy 16-year-old boy with a big heart, and when he was ready to pass on that “courage lion,” he found a unique way to do it. The Ryan’s Lion Organization is the result. Every Ryan’s Lion™ becomes part of the growing legacy of love that began that dreary, rainy Valentine’s Day when I needed the courage of a lion, and someone found a way to give it to me.
Lynnae, mother of Ryan
