When your 13-year-old says his leg hurts, it’s not all that surprising. Kids that age run, jump, and bump into things every minute of the day, all while they grow like weeds. That’s why Karen and Baren Colbert figured their son, Darren, was having growing pains when he complained about his leg. What the family learned, however, was something far more concerning.

Doctors made a devastating discovery: there was a growth in Darren’s leg. The medical team also found that the cancerous tumor had a hemorrhage, leading them to believe they’d need to amputate Darren’s leg at the hip. After talking with family members and human resources at Baren’s company, the Colberts decided to get a second opinion from 2nd.MD.

Getting a second opinion lets people take an active role in treatment decisions and ensures they’re confident in the next steps. An oncology report noted that cancer is such a complex field, that it increases the need for a second opinion, since “the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plans are frequently (and literally) a matter of life and death." [1]

With 2nd.MD, people can use phone and video consultations to get second opinions from board-certified, leading doctors across the country. The physician who consulted with the Colberts focused on saving Darren’s leg and prioritizing his quality of life, an approach that transformed the family’s future.

“Looking back, that second opinion completely changed our lives,” said Karen Colbert. “I am so grateful for a service like 2nd.MD and having access to resources like these.”

Watch the video to hear the family’s full story.

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5634767/