When Darius was born, his parents were surprised to learn he needed colorectal surgery immediately. His intestines were twisted, and he also had a complex condition, called VACTERL, that affected multiple parts of his body. Although Darius’ family lived in New Jersey, their quest for the best care led them to specialists Alberto Peña, MD, and Andrea Bischoff, MD, who were practicing at a hospital in another state.

In 2008, just prior to Darius’ first visit with these world-renowned surgeons, his colon ruptured during a pre-operative procedure. Dr. Peña and Dr. Bischoff quickly performed a pivotal, emergency surgery that saved Darius’s life. Four months later, the doctors performed the “Peña pull-through procedure,” a groundbreaking technique pioneered by Dr. Peña. When Dr. Peña and Dr. Bischoff moved to Children’s Hospital Colorado, Darius’s family followed them to Denver, where Darius transitioned his care, then had multiple follow up surgeries over several years. Because Darius has a complex medical condition that requires multidisciplinary care, he follows up with other specialists at Children’s Colorado as well.

Darius, now a vibrant 18-year-old, not only manages his own care but also serves as an advocate for children facing similar struggles. Darius loves to snowboard and hopes to do it in Colorado someday. He also likes to try out new restaurants when he visits Colorado for his appointments.