STT. Uncontrollable Brain Tumors Forced an Urgent Decision: DJ Daniel Undergoes Life-Saving Surgery
The room fell silent before the oath was taken.
It’s not because people don’t know what’s going to happen.
Because everyone could sense that that moment carried a special weight.
In the center of the room was a 13-year-old boy.
A boy whose life isn’t measured by familiar milestones like his first day of school or carefree summers.
My life has been measured by the length of hospital corridors.
These surgeries are lengthy.
Those moments when life and death are separated by only a thin line.
My name is Devarjaye “D.J.” Daniel.
On April 18, 2025, D.J. raised his right hand.
She recited the oath in a youthful but steady voice.
At that moment, I officially became an Honorary Agent of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.
That was the 1,259th law enforcement agency to swear an oath for her.
For many people, that number sounds unbelievable.
For D.J., it was simply another stop on the journey he and his father had been on together.
A journey built on gratitude.
From memories of help.
And it all started with a simple promise a boy once secretly made to himself.
Childhood Torn Apart by a Death Sentence
In 2018, when D.J. was just six years old, Daniel’s family life suddenly took a different turn.
The doctors said words that no family was ready to hear.
Brain cancer.
Spinal cord cancer.
The prognosis is that he only has a few months to live.
The familiar world collapsed in silence.
The days that followed were no longer marked by school schedules or birthdays.
But by the surgical schedule.
Test schedule.
And those times of anxious waiting were suffocating.
Thirteen surgeries followed one another.
Each case is a battle.
Each time I wake up is a small victory.
No one thought a child could endure so much.
But the DJ managed to do it.
Not just with the body.
But it’s through spirit.
Even during the most painful days, she still told jokes.
Still hugging everyone tightly.
Still trying to bring joy to those who enter my hospital room.
The Storm Sowed the Seeds of a Mission
Before illness struck, another memory was deeply ingrained in D.J.’s mind.
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey swept through Texas.
The floodwaters are rising.
My family is in danger.
In the midst of the panic, three police officers appeared.
They didn’t ask any lengthy questions.
They didn’t hesitate.
They helped my family escape danger.
For a very young boy, that image will never fade.
Years later, when asked why he chose this path, D.J. simply said one thing.
“They helped us.”
“Therefore, I want to help others.”
That very statement became the foundation for everything that followed.
Dream Bigger Than Fear
As his health gradually stabilized, D.J. began talking about a dream.
I would like to take the oath.
I want to be honored with the title of protector of the community.
Initially, it was just an organization.
Then ten.
Then one hundred.
Finally, D.J. set a goal that even adults found hard to believe.
One thousand law enforcement agencies.
Together with his father, Theodis Daniel, D.J. began a journey across America.
They traveled from city to city.
From small police stations to federal agencies.
Wherever DJs go, they are greeted with hugs.
Applause.
And those eyes were filled with emotion.
The target of one thousand was quickly surpassed.
But the DJ didn’t stop.
Because what I was looking for was never a number.
A Week That Went Down in History
April 2025 marks a special milestone.
In St. Louis, Missouri, 203 police departments took an oath of office in honor of D.J. in a single ceremony.
That moment broke the previous Guinness World Record.
But in DJ’s eyes, there was no pride in the record.
The only joy comes from meeting new people.
Those are the people wearing the uniforms I’ve always admired.
A Full Day at DEA
The journey continued, taking D.J. to Virginia.
At the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, I was welcomed like a real student.
She broke down the door and stormed into the training room.
I’m wearing protective gear.
I learned how to cope with dangerous situations.
In the forensic lab, D.J. personally created the chemical reactions.
These experiments make science come alive and easy to understand.
During the Guidon ceremony, I witnessed the moment the class was honored with a tribute to an agent who had died in the line of duty.
For a boy from Houston, it was a particularly profound moment.
The Oath Closes a Circle
At DEA headquarters, the auditorium was packed with people.
When the oath was taken, everyone in the room rose to their feet.
D.J. officially became the youngest Honorary Agent in the agency’s history.
Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz shared that he also began to love the job when he was just 13 years old.
His father was a DEA agent.
He grew up traveling for work.
To honor that connection, he presented D.J. with a commemorative plaque that holds deep family value.
One generation passes on its beliefs to the next.
Voices Go Far Beyond Badges
After the ceremony, the DJ went into the recording studio.
I’m sharing a message that I believe can save lives.
“A single pill can take a life.”
“But your voice can save a life.”
That’s not a slogan.
That was a wake-up call from someone who understood what fragility truly means.
From Hospital Room to Congressional Lights
In March of that year, the whole of America saw D.J.
I was introduced before the National Assembly.
And he was sworn in as an honorary member of the United States Secret Service.
The look of astonishment on her face when she realized what was happening moved millions of people.
A wave of support from law enforcement agencies spread across the country.
Silent Companions
Three years ago, a DEA agent in Houston named Sammy Parks met D.J.
That meeting turned into a bond.
Parks helps connect, guide, and accompany Daniel’s family.
D.J. doesn’t just have one biological family.
I have a large family wearing blue uniforms.
A Mission Nurtured by Joy
The DJ is famous for his “dad jokes”.
With hugs that need no reason.
With firm handshakes.
She said she would continue until her body wouldn’t allow it anymore.
Not for the sake of achievement.
Because of hope.
And for the people at DEA, sharing a day like that with DJ was an honor.
The boy had been diagnosed with only a few months to live.
It has now become a symbol of courage, humanity, and a light that shines throughout the entire country.
