Miracle Kid AJ Gets Featured by NFL
Miracle Kid AJ treated at East Tennesse Children’s Hospital was featured by the NFL for his bond and friendship shared with Steelers rookie Josh Dobbs:
Meet the 7-year-old boy with inoperable brain tumors who forever changed the life of a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.Knoxville native AJ Cucksey and former Tennessee Football star QB Josh Dobbs share an enduring friendship that transcends football.
Posted by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals on Wednesday, November 8, 2017
AJ has pilocytic astrocytoma. While on a family vacation at Walt Disney World, AJ’s parents noticed he was struggling with coordination and walking. As their trip continued, his symptoms worsened, so they cut their vacation short and headed straight to the pediatrician. Shortly thereafter, doctors diagnosed AJ with the most common type of nonmalignant pediatric brain tumor.
Though most children with this diagnosis have one or two tumors, AJ has seven — most of which are inoperable due to their location. In order to treat the tumors, AJ endured a year of chemotherapy, with his final treatment in December 2015.
AJ loves learning, particularly science and math, and wants to become a doctor one day.
How donations help AJ:
Funds from CMN Hospitals purchased a CT scanner, which doctors used for six of AJ’s CT scans to monitor tumor growth and changes. Donations also helped fund AJ’s medical stroller.