Help Darius Keep Fighting – Our One-of-a-Kind Warrior

Our names are Stacie Bell and Bev Swazey, together we are raising money for our favorite little warrior Darius and the strongest family you will ever meet…

Meet Darius — a 9-year-old boy with the brightest smile, the warmest heart, and the fiercest spirit. Darius was born a fighter. At just 2 months old, he was airlifted to London for life-saving operations and faced nights filled with uncertainty. He later underwent open heart surgery — one of many battles his little body would endure.

Darius has Down syndrome and is the only known child in the world diagnosed with both Down syndrome and Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), a rare and aggressive condition that has given him more hospital days than playground days. His diagnosis came with a devastating prognosis, but Darius has never let that stop him. Every few months brought new medical challenges — from cranial, spinal, and eye tumors to procedures, sedated MRIs, and difficult recoveries. One tumor wrapped around his vestibular artery and threatened his spine, but surgery gave him a second chance — and brought back his infectious smile.

That smile has carried his family and care team through unimaginable darkness.

In October 2024, new tumors were found, one dangerously growing on his brain stem. When it tripled in size, and the vestibular tumor fully encased the artery, a high-risk surgery became his only option. Doctors in London performed a complex and daring procedure — first sacrificing the artery to make de-bulking possible, and then moving forward with the biopsy. Darius, true to his fighting nature, made it through.

But just when recovery began, tragedy struck. A traumatic brain injury led to multiple strokes. And now, Danielle, Andre and Silas sits in the Pediatric Critical Care Unit, holding his hand, whispering to him that the world is not ready to let go. We all aren’t ready to let go.

Darius is the Fitzgeralds light. His laughter fills rooms and hearts. His courage teaches us what it means to truly live and love.

Now, more than ever, his family needs us. While they stay by Darius’ side, willing him to keep fighting, we can fight alongside them. This journey has taken a massive emotional and financial toll — travel, time off work, accommodations, medical costs, and more. The last thing they should be worried about is money.

Please, if you can, donate. Share. Support. Let’s remind this incredible family that they are not alone, and that Darius has an army behind him.

Let’s lift them up, just as they’ve lifted Darius through every moment of his extraordinary journey.

#TeamDarius #FightWithDarius #DariusStrong