Healing children and helping them smile through it is the subject of this week’s Feel-Good Friday.

We all remember 13-year-old DJ Daniel, who President Donald Trump recognized in his March Joint Address, and who was sworn in as an honorary Secret Service agent. Young DJ has battled brain and spine cancer since the age of four, and in May, his father revealed that more tumors were found. It is truly heartbreaking that children have to suffer from pediatric cancers. These young ones show a strength and resilience that is beyond their years and deserve every moment of joy that can be provided to them. 

To end September’s Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will release millions to combine AI with research in order to supercharge the efforts to combat pediatric cancers. This is a game-changer, as my colleague Katie Jerkovich reported.

In the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump signed the historic Executive Order, which he said will “massively accelerate pediatric cancer research and harness the extraordinary potential of Artificial Intelligence to fight this terrible disease.” 

[…]

“In 2019, I was proud to launch the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative,” Trump said. “And today, in line with recommendations made by [SecKennedy] and the MAHA Commission, we’re doubling that investment… I’m also directing the federal government to fully utilize Artificial Intelligence to supercharge pediatric cancer research.”

Heartbreaking Update on 13-Year-Old Honorary Secret Service Agent, DJ Daniel

This is YUGE, especially for the parents who want to see their child healed so that they can have a shot at life; and a normal life at that. Some of the most powerful and poignant moments of this Oval Office event were Trump’s interactions with the young people who are battling or have battled these cancers. One 16-year-old bone cancer survivor expressed her gratitude over his executive action.

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16-year-old Carolyn Hendrix, a pediatric bone cancer survivor, on the Executive Order unlocking cures for pediatric cancer:

“What you’re doing today, Mr. President, means that kids like me will get better options and so much more hope for the future.” ❤️ pic.twitter.com/j0p7Twzur9

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 30, 2025

Then there’s this heartwarming exchange with a nine-year-old leukemia survivor.

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If there is any use for government, this is one. Actually facilitating the good and unleashing the power of the private sector to save lives and mitigate suffering. However, I think the St. Louis Police Department SWAT team bested the president this week. 

The SLMPD SWAT team managed to get in their training drills, which included rappelling exercises, at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) — all while dressed as superheroes! This brought huge smiles not only to the young people combating chronic and catastrophic illness, but their parents. 

Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital received a surprise visit from their favorite superheroes.

On Sept. 30, 2025, members of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s SWAT team rappelled down the 12-story hospital building while dressed as superheroes. Not only did this serve as great mission-critical training for the officers, but it also brought joy to the patients and families at St. Louis Children’s.

“We’re so thankful that our SWAT team, along with firefighters in the fire department, are able to save the day of so many children,” said Mitch McCoy, Director of Public Affairs and Information with the police department. “There’s just a lot of happy kids today.”

The police officers teamed up with the St. Louis Fire Department and the St. Louis Police Foundation to conceptualize the training drills at Children’s. McCoy expressed the police department’s appreciation for the many people who came together to make this possible, including Children’s staff members.

He noted that the SWAT team completed necessary training while also supporting kids and families.

“This is an opportunity for our SWAT team. They’re able to do mission-critical training and they’re able to do hostage rescue training while at the same time putting a smile on so many deserving children,” he explained. “Our SWAT team is one of our most tactically trained in the department because of their high-risk missions, but today, they get to wear a different type of uniform.”

Hat tip to our own Deputy Managing Editor Susie Moore for finding this gem.

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According to one report, this was the first time that SLMPD SWAT has partnered with SLCH to complete their training drills while cosplaying as superheroes. Let’s hope it won’t be the last! Over the years, this brilliant idea has been replicated in other cities in Texas, Ohio, and Colorado, and it would be great to see more partnerships between police departments and children’s hospitals across the nation. Moments of unbridled joy and happiness for these families are few and far between. Creating opportunities to spark joy for these children is also pivotal to their health and healing.

Here’s the local news report, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

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Editor’s Note: At RedState, it’s not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what’s good in the world, with columns like “Feel-Good Friday,” “Start Your Weekend Right,” and “Hoge’s Heroes.”