Still Standing With Devin

I was first introduced to Devin and his father at Mahomet’s Soda Festival in June of 2025. A few things stood out to me—Devin’s calm aura and obliging disposition upon meeting me as a newcomer and Dad’s support, hope, tenacity and love. Ryan Robbins had a carload full of “Stand by Devin” apparel that was carefully displayed in a tent in the 600 block of Main Street, and Devin was taking in his surroundings and surveying the soda options and other vendors’ merchandise, with the rest of the crowd in the midst of a summer festival.

Pleased to make both of their acquaintances, we shook hands, and I began following Devin’s journey with a new vested interest and compassion. Devin was a seventh grader at Mahomet-Seymour Junior High School when he’d been shockingly diagnosed with an aggressive variant of osteosarcoma, following what was thought to be a mundane concern regarding knee pain.

As any parent can relate to, the combination of fear, hope, and intense love was almost too much to bear, yet Ryan did what any loving parent would do, without question. While compromising his career and spending countless hours driving back and forth to Chicago for doctors’ appointments, Ryan committed full-time to taking care of his son, casting fear and uncertainty aside to put first only what was in Devin’s best interest. Devin’s passions were varied. Coloring became an intense interest in the fall and helped Devin stay relaxed, amidst an extraordinary amount of discomfort and uncertainty. He was a huge Star Wars fan as well as of the rock band, Linkin’ Park. Dad was able to score tickets for Devin to see his favorite band live in August, and the family took a long-awaited trip to Disneyworld in late September. Community members also gathered at Briks in Mahomet for Devin’s 14 th birthday in September.

Devastating news was delivered by Devin’s care team in December. With the final goal being achieving comfort for Devin, his family shared their last moments in this life with him on December 9, 2025. His brothers were able to say goodbye, and Devin mustered what strength he had left for a heartfelt hug with his twin brother, Brayden. Community members again gathered at Briks to celebrate the life of this special and amazing young man on December 20. The outpouring of love was palpable. “The days without him have been really hard,” said Ryan. “He was my whole world—my full-time job for nine months, and now I don’t even know what to do with myself.”

Devin had wishes to be an organ donor and to become a tree. Devin’s eyes were donated to give someone else the gift of sight, through another of our scientific miracles. As for the tree, the community looks with hope to the fruition of that wish and perhaps a place we can find shade, shrouded in an inexplicable sense of peace when we’re needing it most.

While the hole in the community’s heart is large and the grief of the family overwhelming, Devin is remembered with love and gratitude for having had him in our lives when we did. Sometimes individuals are put in our midst to remind us to appreciate life through the eyes of an angel.

We love you, Devin.