The 13-year-old, who was recognized by President Trump and lauded by over 1,000 police departments earlier this year for his fight against brain cancer, had to debunk false claims alleging he was in intensive care after surgery.
Inaccurate news started spreading late Monday night, suggesting Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel was in serious condition at the hospital after undergoing surgery for cancerous tumors on his brain and spine.
The teen and his father, Theodis Daniel, quickly dispelled the rumors, confirming DJ was doing well and looking forward to his trip to New Jersey.
“FYI: The media is spreading incorrect information, claiming I am having brain surgery and in ICU, etc. I am thankful for the ongoing prayers, but I am not currently having surgery and am gearing up to visit the Cliffside Park Police Department in New Jersey tomorrow. Thank you all,” Daniel’s Facebook page stated Tuesday.
The incorrect health update appears to have started after Texas’ Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman asked his followers to pray for Daniel because of the made up surgery.
“PRAYERS NEEDED FOR SPECIAL AGENT DEVARJAYE “DJ” DANIEL!!,” Herman wrote Monday night. “Please join the men and women of Constable Mark Herman’s Office as we lift up Special Agent Daniel in prayer. He is in serious condition in the ICU after brain surgery on Saturday. His family requests your prayers.”
The incorrect statement was published at 9:12 p.m. but was quickly edited 30 minutes later.
“Please join the men and women of Constable Mark Herman’s Office as we lift up Special Agent Daniel in prayer. His family requests your prayers,” the restructured statement read.
Two weeks ago, Theodis Daniel gave an upsetting update to his son’s cancer, revealing “three new tumors” had been discovered.
“It’s rough, there isn’t a class that can teach you how to deal with it. You’re hearing that your child has a nasty disease,” the elder Daniel told Fox 7 Austin at the time.
Herman has not addressed the incorrect post.
Daniel had undergone two MRIs last week for doctors and the family to learn more about the newly discovered tumours. They are still awaiting results, his father told KHOU.
Daniel was thrust into the national spotlight when he was invited by President Donald Trump to the commander in chief’s address to a joint session of Congress on March 4 in the Capitol.
The teen was sworn in as an honorary agent of the Secret Service during the president’s speech.
Daniel has been battling brain and spine cancer since 2018, when doctors gave him the grim diagnosis of five months to live.
He has fought past the prognosis and was awarded a Guinness World Record for being sworn into the most law enforcement agencies.
The teen has dreams of becoming a real police officer when he grows up.
“We’re just going around showing people, hey, you do care for one another. Let’s give compassion and let’s try to join and help each other get through things,” Theodis Daniel told the outlet.
The teen will be honored by New Jersey’s Cliffside Park Police Department on Wednesday evening, marking over 1,350 agencies to receive Daniel.
Days before Herman’s post, Daniel gave a true health update to his followers from his hospital bed.
“I am going for my two MRIs for my brain and spine, and they just put the IV in about five minutes ago and I’m still doing good,” Daniel said in a Facebook post on June 5.
