The daddy of Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel — the 13-year-old most cancers survivor who was made an honorary US Secret Service agent throughout President Trump’s Congressional handle Tuesday — has no endurance for Rachel Maddow undermining his son’s second.
“She must shut her mouth if she has nothing good to say,” Theodis Daniel advised The Publish of the MSNBC anchor, who declared Trump “disgusting” for calling out DJ and his most cancers battle.
“This girl didn’t even serve time within the navy,” he added. “I used to be on the USS Kitty Hawk. She doesn’t have to put her unhealthy vitality on us.”
DJ stole hearts and impressed a nation when the younger Texan was made an honorary US Secret Service agent by director Sean Curran.
“The White Home reached out to us and mentioned that President Trump needs to satisfy Devarjaye,” Theodis Daniel, the boy’s father, advised The Publish. “They flew us out and FBI brokers picked us up on the airport.”
After being sworn in and assembly border czar Tom Homan, DJ and his dad have been escorted to prime seats for Trump’s speech.
“We sat subsequent to Mr. Elon [Musk], the primary girl was in entrance of us and Kash Patel was at my son’s proper shoulder,” mentioned Theodis, a 47-year-old former machinist mate and fireman with the Navy. “The primary girl was good, candy, all the way down to earth. Mr. Elon shook arms with us.”
Whereas the Daniel household’s pals and kinfolk have been stunned to listen to DJ being favorably singled out by the president — who known as him “a younger man who actually loves our police” — they weren’t shocked. In accordance with Theodis, the Secret Service induction marked the younger teen’s 909th swear-in as an honorary legislation enforcer.
“I assumed it was superior for my nephew. He deserves it,” DJ’s aunt Jane Daniel advised The Publish of the accolades from Trump. “I feel that such an honor will assist him to succeed in his objectives. In the event you can accomplish this, you may accomplish something.”
DJ obtained his stunning mind most cancers prognosis in September 2018, when he was six years previous. The Daniel household had simply moved from San Antonio to Houston, and he and his two siblings have been on the brink of enroll in new colleges.
“His physique stiffened and out of the blue he was foaming on the mouth,” his mom, Demitra Johnson, advised The Publish. “We rushed him to the hospital.”
A CAT scan revealed Stage 3 mind most cancers and, as Theodis recalled, “a tumor the dimensions of a lemon.”
“I used to be crying; I keep in mind yelling at his dad to do one thing,” mentioned Demitra, a restaurant supervisor who’s separated from Theodis. “I assumed he might repair it.”
On the time, DJ was given simply 5 months to reside. It’s now been greater than six years and, whereas he nonetheless has terminal most cancers, it’s being regularly handled.
Every surgical procedure has modified DJ’s persona a little bit bit, mentioned his mother, although she views it in the easiest way potential: “I really feel like he’s been born 13 instances. He’s so robust and has a coronary heart of gold.”
Earlier than his prognosis, DJ — impressed by the great work of the Houston PD throughout Hurricane Harvey — had already determined he needed to be a police officer when he grows up.
Theodis didn’t wish to make his son await his dream, so he organized for DJ to be sworn in as an honorary officer with the police division of Brookshire, Texas, in 2019. The then six-year-old obtained a uniform and a 10-gallon hat.
“Two years later I known as the Texas state troopers to see if they might come out for Devarjaye’s ninth birthday and we had a swarm of law enforcement officials,” mentioned Theodis. “The officers swore him in and it grew from there. Instantly everybody needed to have him in.”
On Tuesday, Trump introduced, “we’re going to do you the most important honor of all of them. I’m asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to formally make you an agent of the US.”
“He takes a number of delight in being made a police officer,” mentioned Theodis. “The opposite officers convey him camaraderie and confidence.”
However Theodis, who visited the White Home along with his son on Wednesday, was not thrilled by Democratic lawmakers heckling the president’s speech. “When [Representative from Texas] Al Inexperienced stood up and made that ruckus, I used to be disgusted,” he mentioned. “What sort of message is he sending?”
Nonetheless, DJ’s household won’t let that get in the way in which of their positivity.
“Devarjaye has overcome the percentages,” marveled his aunt Jane. “It’s all in who you’re inside. I feel God has given a troublesome battle to a very good one. I consider that God is searching for him and ensuring that the proper arms are touching him.”
