A 17-year-old Sisler Spartans football player, Darius Hartshorne, leaves behind his biological mother, Pokie Hartshorne-Sutherland, and the guardians who brought him up like their own, Stephanie Ciaralli and Jesse Ciaralli.
Darius “Dee” Hartshorne succumbed to the injuries sustained during a football match on Thursday morning, October 30, 2025.
Sadly, he took his last breath just five days past his 17th birthday.
It was on October 17, 2025, that Darius was hurt during the opening kickoff of a high school matchup between the Sisler Spartans and the Tec Voc Hornets when he took a hit while returning the ball.
What started as a routine play turned into a nightmare. Dee suffered a severe spinal injury that landed him in emergency surgery right away.
Doctors fused his vertebrae and tried to relieve the pressure on his spine, but the damage was deep.
A Grade 12 student at Sisler High School, Darius Hartshorne, is survived by his parents, Pokie Hartshorne-Sutherland and Nazzy James Sutherland, and his guardians, Stephanie Ciaralli and Jesse Ciaralli, as well as his sister.
Likewise, he also left behind his grandmother and extended family.
Following the tragic injury, for the next 12 days, Dee fought in intensive care with his family beside him.
Through it all, both his parents and guardians supported him and prayed for the miracle.
Darius had two women who loved him like sons: his birth mother, Pokie Hartshorne-Sutherland, and Stephanie Ciaralli, who raised him and his four younger siblings as if they were her own.
Pokie, his biological other, took to her Facebook that night to share the news of his severe injury:
To all my friends and family I need prayers for my son Darius he got really hurt last night at his football game and had to get surgery done last night and hope he has movement in his arms and legs when they wake him up I love u so much my son I will see u soon
Pokie
By the next day, October 18, she posted again, this time about the surgery dragging on. She wrote:
Well my son is now in surgery for 6+ hours mommy love u so much my son praying for a good outcome.
Pokie
Six hours turned into more, and she just kept asking for prayers.
A couple of days later, on October 19, Pokie got to see him for the first time since the hit. She shared the update, writing:
Went and seen my son today was hard seeing him like that but he has a long road of recovery ahead of him and he has a lot of people that are praying for him.
Pokie
On his birthday on October 25. Dee turned 17 in a hospital bed, and Pokie marked it with pure mom love. She wanted him home, blowing out candles, but all she could do was pray harder.
During and after his birthday, she continued to pray for her son with every passing day.
But by October 30, the weight crushed her as she penned on her Facebook, “Why does it have to be me like why my son I miss u so much and love u I am so broken.”
And in one last tender post, Pokie wrote, “I would pick my Son to be my Son, in every lifetime, again & again,” just hours before he passed away: “I want my baby back.“
Darius Hartshorne’s Guardian, Stephanie, remembered him, “Dee, you are the son I chose to love every single day.“
Stephanie Ciaralli, who stepped up to raise Dee and his siblings alongside her husband Jesse, shared her side too.
Although she wasn’t his biological mother, she never made him feel any less.
Right after the injury, around October 18, she put out a call on her Facebook:
If you’re seeing this! Please take a moment to say a prayer for our oldest kiddo tonight! We need all the prayers and good vibes we can get. Dee! We love you and know how strong you are you got this buddy we may have a long road ahead of us but we will never give up.
Stephanie Ciaralli
By October 20, she shared an appreciation post for everyone who lent them a helping hand in every way possible, writing:
I can’t even put into words right now how incredibly thankful we are to be a part of such a loving and supportive community.
Stephanie Ciaralli
On his birthday, Stephanie shared a heartwarming message, turning the mood into something hopeful amid the mess. She wrote:
Happy 17th birthday Dee! I know this isn’t how we planned to spend your special day but know we’re celebrating you in our own way today! We spent the evening making some sweaters to honour you.
Stephanie Ciaralli
But things took a turn; on October 27, she dropped a heavy update after four tough days. Dee had spiked a fever on October 21, landing him in an induced coma to fight swelling in his brain and damage to his kidneys and liver.
They took him off sedation, started dialysis, but he wasn’t waking up. Nevertheless, they held onto the last glimmer of hope and miracle.
However, early on October 30, the hope faded, and she shared the news of his passing with a heavy heart:
Our hearts are heavy today, but there is comfort in knowing that Dee is no longer suffering.
Stephanie Ciaralli
She and Jesse were right there as he took his last breath after goodbyes from everyone.
Stephanie called him, “Dee, you are the son I chose to love every single day… I’m so deeply sorry for all that you had to go through these last 12 days, but I am endlessly proud of the young man you became.”
During this challenging phase, we pray for the strength of both his parents and guardians, as well as his friends, teammates, and extended family.
Rest Easy, Darius Hartshorne!
