JASPER, Texas — A brave 13-year-old boy battling terminal cancer will be sworn in as an honorary Jasper police officer.
Devarjaye "DJ" Daniel, who has a rare form of brain and spinal cancer, will be sworn in Thursday at Jasper City Hall council chambers.
He will receive a key to the city, and the day will be officially proclaimed "Devarjaye Daniel Day," according to media partner East Texas Banner.
DJ has always wanted to become a police officer or firefighter. He has been sworn in with more than 905 law enforcement agencies.
Read the full statement from DJ's father, Theodis Daniel:
"Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel was born in San Antonio, Texas but raised and lives in Houston, Texas. He is a very outspoken, bubbly, friendly, loving kind kid who was diagnosed with terminal brain and spine cancer. He has had 13 brain surgeries with advanced stages of cataracts. He was a study for a medicine that was approved through FDA. He’s been sworn in with over 905 law-enforcement agencies local, state, federal, international, including firefighters prosecutor offices, he’s a graduate of FBINA session 284 from the FBI Academy has been on the cover the Blue magazine. He’s been announced the Congressional floor by Congressman Troy Nehls in Washington, DC at U.S. Capital.
He has hundreds of proclamations for which she chooses to share with other people, I think his heart is bigger than his body. He’s been on just about any and every media outlet that you can think of. He’s standing here before you today because of the resilience, the tenacity and aggressive nature to want to fight this cancer all the way being kind, nice and thoughtful and humble, anyone who meets him with him.
So, we still find time to think about other people let battle, and let his battle against cancer and the pain that he endures and suffers be your guidance for your motivation to keep pursuing the joy of happiness and smile on your face, but we’ve got more days behind then in front of us.
He has 3 brand new tumors in his brain. That’s the last thing I needed to hear, but of course Devarjaye was like “oh well what can we do about it? I’m not going to stop living, still got work to do.” Guess what? He still gives hugs, rubs ball heads for good luck, plays with kids, makes people feel warm, has some of the corniest jokes on earth but you can’t help but laugh. He just wants you to feel good. He doesn’t want to be a party pooper. He’s dedicated his life and its uphill battle to do that so. Devarjaye and his brothers, he’s going to continue this, endlessly journey until as he says his gas tank runs out and that’s when God calls him home. It kind of hits you deep in the heart when the kid acknowledges and understands what he’s up against, but he makes you think about your life to be great, inspirational, and give somebody a hug today."
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
