This is Episode Twenty-Nine with Ryan Darilek
(Ryan’s Dad Stats: Seven sons - ages 7, 8, 17, 20, 20, 28 & 32)
Welcome to an intense and moving episode of "WHOA DAD! GO DAD!" with my friend Ryan Darilek. Amongst several career endeavors, Ryan is the Chairman of EmBrave, an organization out of Colorado Springs that facilitates transformational improvement in the lives of people faced with homelessness, mental health difficulties, and justice-related issues. The organization is focused on bringing light to those in their darkest hour, and in a poetic set of events, Ryan was once a client of the organization.
The story Ryan shares is nothing short of surreal, and you’ll see how it had a massive impact on his perspective of life, and the ripple effect across hundreds if not thousands of lives.
On November 27, 2015, Ryan and his then-girlfriend Karen, experienced a harrowing ordeal at a Planned Parenthood clinic, a pivotal day that became a key turning point in in their lives, and a massive transformation for Ryan as a father, a partner, and a man.
They arrived at the clinic for a scheduled abortion, unaware that it would coincide with a violent attack. As you’ll hear, at one point, Ryan stepped out to the parking lot after getting a coffee at the nearby King Soopers, and encountered the shooter face to face. The shooter opened fire, targeting him directly and shooting at him seven times. Miraculously, Ryan was unharmed despite the close range and immediate danger.
Later on, inside the clinic, Karen was among those held hostage as the situation escalated into a full-blown standoff. The attack led to a tense and prolonged crisis, lasting about five hours, during which the couple tried desperately to maintain contact through texts and calls, piecing together fragmented updates about each other's safety. Their communication was fraught with uncertainty and fear, as they could not fully know or understand the ongoing events around them.
This critical incident not only marked a traumatic climax in their lives but also ignited Ryan's profound transformation and reaffirmation of his priorities and values.