'I keep a smile on my face': Laney football player fights on despite terminal cancer diagnosis
Laney High School's DJ McLeod was supposed to spend last fall on the football field, enjoying his senior season. Instead, he's spent the last eight months in and out of hospitals fighting cancer.
DJ's mother, Ashanti Craine, has been inspired by her son's positive attitude throughout the process. Speaking from his hospital bed on Friday, DJ says family and the support from the community have helped him remain strong.
"I think about family," DJ said in a video shared with the StarNews. "I think about family and the support from friends and other families and churches, the whole Wilmington community."
His secret to remaining positive?
"I just keep a smile on my face, that's really it. I just smile and make everything happy," he said.
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On Jan. 17, doctors discovered a third tumor in DJ, ruling it inoperable. After learning the cancer is terminal, DJ had a big decision: Return home and spend time with his family without treatment, or attempt the most aggressive form of chemotherapy yet?
"DJ asked if he was going to die," Ashanti said. "The doctor told him that they could do a bunch of different things, but that ultimately he believes that he is going to die."
The fighting spirit of the senior, who turned 18 in December, again came through. He decided to attack the disease again.
"There are some days where I will feel like I don't want to be here and stuff," DJ said. "But then I just look back at family again. I ask myself, 'What would happen if you just gave up?'"
How much DJ already has endured
DJ was set to earn a starting role in the team's defense for the 2022 season. Coach Luke Little says DJ's overachieving work ethic and positive attitude made him stick out.
"Something like this I haven't even dealt with in my life. I think DJ might be the strongest one of all of them. He's always smiling and joking and acting like everything's going good," Little said.
But what started as complaints of constipation last summer quickly became worse. After Ashanti took DJ to a local hospital in June, they transferred him to UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill for further evaluation.
There, doctors found a tumor in DJ's abdomen, later diagnosing him with sarcoma, an uncommon form of cancer.
The initial plan was surgery; the size and location of the tumor made that impossible. DJ underwent chemotherapy through November, was released from the hospital and returned home.
In December, another tumor was discovered. More chemotherapy was required and, with DJ's body struggling to function normally, his case became more severe.
After the third tumor was discovered, DJ has continued to decline. This week, he had to go to an emergency room after developing a fever and struggling to breathe.
Now back at UNC, DJ has continued to remain positive, reaffirming that he won't give up his fight.
"What I want people to know is don't give up," DJ said. "Do not give up on yourself, do not give up on beating it. If you're out there and you're fighting cancer, don't give up."
Want to help?
In June, a GoFund Me was created to help DJ and his family with medical expenses. To date, the fundraiser has brought more than $20,000 in donations. If you would like to help, go online to https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraising-for-dj-mcleod.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC high school football player with terminal cancer: 'Don't give up'
