Darien Felix Stasulis was born to Marlee Bedford and Casey Stasulis on Monday, September 27th, 2021 at Lompoc Valley Medical Center. His arrival was a welcome surprise, and he was loved from the moment his family discovered him in his mother's belly. Although at first hospitalized at Marian Medical Center, Darien was soon brought home.

He spent his short but bright life being cuddled incessantly, held and adored by his parents and siblings, Ryer and Wendalynn, while his grandparents, aunts, and family friends doted on him whenever they could. Suddenly hospitalized at Children's Hospital Los Angeles when he was one month old, Darien was expected to pass away less than two weeks later. However, he hadn't quite had his fill of snuggles, and breathed strong when taken off the ventilator.

For another month and a half, the "cuddle monster" as his parents affectionately called him continued to be loved, held, and snuggled by his parents who were constantly by his side, and by the nurses on the rare days when mom and dad couldn't be there. Darien was well-known for preferring to have company, and the nurses were more than happy to comply. He quickly became a favorite on the floor, with off-duty healthcare workers coming to visit him often. Toys, blankets, and books quickly filled his room and his crib, where Darien constantly had his triceratops snuggie by his side and his dinosaur blanket wrapped around him to keep him cozy. He was able to celebrate his second and third month birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with his family, but ultimately decided that it was time for him to be cuddled close by his Grandpa Dan and Great-Grandpa Hank in Heaven on the morning of New Year's Eve, December 31st, 2021.

Darien is so deeply loved and will never be forgotten by his family, and although his passing has caused heartbreak and tears, he has helped save other children through One Legacy so other families will not have to feel the same loss. The amount of love and support his family has received from the community has been beyond humbling, and there are not enough words to thank everyone deeply enough.

Darien is survived by his mother, Marlee Bedford, and father, Casey Stasulis, his brother, Ryer Bedford, and sister, Wendalynn Stasulis, his grandparents, Heather and Richard Bedford and Terrie Williams, his aunts Halle Bedford, Ashonda Williams, and Shaton Williams-Burden, his cousin Kaden Burden, his great-grandparents Diane Hudson, Jane and Paul Curtis, and George and Cheryl Bedford, and many other family and loved ones who will miss him dearly.

An open-house styled reception for family, friends, and loved ones to celebrate Darien's life will be held on Saturday, January 15th beginning at 11am at 601 University Drive in Lompoc. If wanting to donate, the family asks for help to offset the cost of Darien's hospitalization, or to make a donation in Darien's name to One Legacy at www.onelegacy.org.