7-Year-Old Brain Tumor Survivor Makes Key Chains For Heroic Cops

By Cleve Bryan

MOUNT HOLLY, NJ (CBS) – While some superheroes hide their identities, 7-year-old Darien Hoefling's emblem goes across his forehead.

"I beat a brain tumor, "say Hoefling, who goes by "Deej."

Last summer doctors discovered a rapidly growing brain tumor that required two emergency surgeries.

"The end of July he lost his vision," says his father Kyle Hoefling.

Fortunately the tumor was not cancerous but it has left him partially blind and caused him to miss a lot school in recovery.

To pass the time Deej made personalized key chains for his heroes at the Mount Holly Police Department.

"I made key chains of the colors of the cop cars," says Deej.

To say thank you the department threw him a superhero pizza party on Thursday and wore superhero t-shirts under their uniforms.

"When he came to the police station to give us these key chains, I was in aww. He's unbelievable, I had to meet him immediately," says officer Deborah Brewer who helped to spearhead the party and wore a Wonder Woman shirt.

Chief Tom Mastrangelo also swore Deej in as an honorary police officer.

"It's very refreshing to have somebody so young to come and embrace the police department as he does," says Mastrangelo.

Deej continues to inspire more superheroes by making personalized key chains. Anyone who would like to make a donation visit his Facebook page Deej Originals.