INTERVIEW: DJ Daniel Overcomes the Odds in Visit to Small Florida Town
Fighting cancer with no known cure, a 13-year-old boy inspires the nation.
"I had it out with God. Why did you have to give it to him at six years old, and not me?"
That's the conversation Theodis Daniel says he's had with God many times. Theodis and his son, Devarjaye, came to tiny Crawfordville, Florida recently, fresh off a visit to President Trump at the White House. Devarjaye—or DJ for short—is a remarkable 13-year-old. He's become a bit of a celebrity, a sort of fame forged by staying positive through unimaginable challenge.
"DJ has now been sworn in as an honorary agent in almost 4,000 law enforcement agencies and fire departments. His father says they've contacted the Guiness Book of World Records to see if DJ qualifies."
"I've already made it to 18, to 21, [to adulthood]. I've lived a good life," Theodis told Restoration News in an exclusive interview. "My son should have the opportunity to get to have his first girlfriend, without having to go through all this suffering and this pain. There's nothing greater than a person giving up their life for somebody else. It's not fair to my son to be that young to not to get to live life, to get cancer. So give it to me. Give it to me."
When they arrived to a cheering crowd in the town square on a steamy summer evening, Theodis retold the story, saying he asked God to give him the cancer instead of his then-six year old son. Instead, they decided as a family to try to turn their dire situation into a positive, and to reach as many people as they could with a message of hope and perseverance.
DJ—and His Dad—Spread Hope
DJ Daniel rocketed into the consciousness of America during Donald Trump's March 2025 address to a joint session of Congress. During the speech, President Trump singled out DJ and Theodis in the audience, telling the story of DJ's fight against brain and spinal cancer. DJ has dreamed of becoming a police officer since he was nine years old. Unfortunately, he has had an overwhelming number of setbacks in his young life. President Trump surprised the Daniel family as the head of the Secret Service approached DJ during the speech—and swore him in on the spot as an honorary agent.
Police officers gather to honor DJ Daniel and his father, Theodis
DJ has now been sworn in as an honorary agent in almost 4,000 law enforcement agencies and fire departments. Theodis says they've contacted the Guiness Book of World Records to see if DJ qualifies.
He also says DJ has now beaten the record for the number of keys to the city awarded, well over twenty at this point. Theodis proudly claims they recently topped the previous mark set by P Diddy (who has had at least one taken away).
Diagnosed with cancer at age 6, doctors gave DJ five months to live. He has endured thirteen brain surgeries, and countless bouts of radiation and chemotherapy. His dad, Theodis, signed him up as the first patient on an experimental cancer drug that so far has kept DJ alive. The chemotherapy has left him with acute onset scoliosis, which will require more surgery. He experiences seizures. DJ also has cataracts. Theodis told Restoration News the doctors have no idea what his long-term prognosis is, but for now the three new tumors they found in March have gone dormant.
DJ has made it to 13 years old now.
DJ and Theodis Daniel address a crowd
Through it all, DJ has chosen to spread joy to everyone he meets. He regularly goes to church, and he likes to tell jokes. If he encounters a bald man, he has to rub his head—for good luck. He somehow came into possession of a Nancy Pelosi challenge coin, which he has unsuccessfully attempted to give away to crowds of supporters.
"This here," Theodis told Restoration News, "It could turn any day. So if we're going to go out, we're going to go out on our terms." That's why they continue their breakneck pace of visiting as many cities and as many police and fire departments as they can, with the time they have. "If he's going to go, we're going to make sure it's good for everybody, in the mission of service to the community."
Small Town Florida Welcomes DJ Like a Conquering Hero
DJ and Theodis spent a little less than a week in Crawfordville and Panacea, tiny little coastal towns in a part of Florida locals call the Forgotten Coast. In that time, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s office and Wakulla County Fire and Rescue swore him in as an honorary officer. So did the Florida State Patrol and the Florida Lottery Division of Security.
In addition to the pomp and circumstance, DJ also got the opportunity to hone his skills. He got to try out a taser for the first time.
He took a trip to go deep sea fishing out on the Gulf of America.
He even got to participate in his first hunt, bagging an antelope at a private hunting club.
The small communities in North Florida showed DJ and Theodis Daniel true southern hospitality, going all out to pack in as much fun as they could handle. Unfortunately, DJ still hasn’t been able to give away his Nancy Pelosi challenge coin. The quest continues.
Photo credits: Jeff Reynolds
A family friend has set up a fundraising account to help Theodis pay for the expenses involved in these trips to get DJ sworn in to all those law enforcement agencies. You can contribute at this link, which also describes DJ’s diagnosis in detail.
