On 10 March, his mother and the Laney football team announced on social media that 18-year-old DJ McLeod had passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Mom Ashanti Craine said in her online journal, “For the sake of my baby, I prayed to God for his health. I prayed to God to take away his suffering and cure his cancer so he might finally rest in peace. God heard the prayer today at 12:55. I know God welcomed my son with open arms because he is seated next to him.”
A tweet from the Laney football team’s account read, “Sadly, we are informing you that Darnell McLeod, AKA DJ, has passed away peacefully. DJ’s personal drive and work ethic as not only a student-athlete but as a young teenager battling cancer helped galvanize all of us to take on each day with a positive attitude and to keep working hard no matter what the situation.”
#DJSTRONG💙💛💪 Always & Forever pic.twitter.com/ohTXjeTiOm
— Laney High School Football (@FootballLaney) March 10, 2023
In January, doctors found a third tumor in DJ, rendering all three of them incurable. In January, while in the ICU, McLeod spoke about his diagnosis and his unwavering optimism.
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“I just keep a smile on my face, that’s really it. I just smile and make everything happy,” he said.
McLeod’s high school graduation ceremony was held not too long ago at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.
Some Sunday motivation for y’all: DJ McLeod is a high school graduate after finishing his U.S. history course while receiving chemo and treatments at @uncchildrens. Even through his diagnoses, he is not giving up. Most do not have this kind of perseverance. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/wqBIWX9Ecw
— Jake Eichstaedt (@Jake25Eich) February 5, 2023
A GoFundMe page was established in June to assist DJ and his loved ones in meeting their medical costs. More than $40,000 has been raised so far thanks to this event.
DJ McLeod barely lived to be 18 when he passed away. He has been ill for months with an incurable kind of cancer. The sports industry has lost a pioneer with his passing. Add ventuerjolt.com to your bookmarks if you’re interested in the latest news.