LOCAL NEWS

Utah Boy Receives Hundreds Of Cards Before Surgery

Oct 22, 2019, 8:17 PM | Updated: 8:17 pm

SOUTH OGDEN, Utah — A 13-year-old South Ogden boy checked into Primary Children’s Hospital Tuesday for another surgical procedure among many he has already endured in his life. But for this trip to the hospital, a new support team let him know “he’s got this” with 400 cards from around the world.

“He has a huge heart: super caring, super tough,” said CJ Warner’s mother, Tami Havey. “He has a great attitude about him.”

Like many seventh graders, CJ likes to play sports and video games. But unlike his peers, CJ has Hirschsprung Disease, a birth defect that adversely affects his bowels.

He had his first surgery at Primary Children’s Hospital at age 2 and only has half of his intestine left after seven major surgeries. This week, CJ is getting tests to determine what he needs in the next surgery.

“His longest stay in the hospital was four weeks,” Havey said.

This time in the hospital, CJ will be bed-ridden and fasting for a couple of days. But, his mom said he never feels sorry for himself.

“He’s just…this is how it is, and I’m gonna rise above it,” she said.

This time around, CJ’s mom had a surprise for him. She asked her friends on Facebook to send CJ letters of support. She wasn’t looking for money. She wanted something special to lift up her son during a very tough time.

“All I just wanted was somebody to just to mail him a letter saying, you’ve got this,” Havey said.

After she posted the request, she had no idea what response she would get, so she prayed at least one letter would arrive. CJ ended up getting many more.

“The letters just keep pouring in,” she said, showing off a large basket of envelopes. “This one is from the Philippines.”

At the last count, CJ had received approximately 400 letters and cards from all over the world — and letters of encouragement and love are still arriving every day.

“They just want you to know that you’ve got this,” Havey said.

As they looked through the letters and read a few out loud, tears of joy flowed down CJ’s cheeks, and his mother’s.

“I want you to stay strong and keep your head up, always,” CJ read from one of the cards.

One card even had a little humor from his big sister.

“I’m sorry that things are kind of poopy,” CJ read with a laugh.

He’s thankful for new friends during a difficult week.

“I never thought that there would be that many people in the world that would take time to write a letter to me,” he said. “It’s awesome.”

He plans to send a thank you note to each of his new supporters.

“It really helps me know that I’m not in this alone,” CJ said. “That there are people that are going to help me through it.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Matt Gephardt working with Bona Rose on the CarChex documents....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

Get Gephardt: West Valley woman says her extended car warranty claim was denied unfairly

Many drivers buy an extended auto warranty to cover unexpected repair bills. But when a West Valley City woman turned to her warranty provider for major help on her car's transmission, they turned her down - repeatedly.

7 hours ago

Moments before a Salt Lake City woman is hit by a white car in the Avenues....

Eric Cabrera, KSL NewsRadio, Garna Mejia and Michael Houck, KSL TV

Doorbell camera captures another hit-and-run in Salt Lake City

New doorbell camera shows bystanders rushing to save a woman who may be another victim of an alleged serial hit-and-runner.

7 hours ago

A view of the West Temple and 200 South intersection in Salt Lake City....

Michael Houck

A major downtown Salt Lake City intersection will close from April to May

Starting April 1, the West Temple and 200 South intersection will be closed as crews replace natural gas lines.

8 hours ago

Researchers gathered in a Weber State University room for a Air Quality Summit....

Mike Anderson

Air Quality Summit puts focus on Utah air pollution and solutions

Many of the researchers who study Utah's air pollution problems are sharing what they've found while working to find solutions during Thursday's Air Quality Summit.

10 hours ago

Keith Stebbings (right) confronting Loren Richardson (left) after Richardson allegedly entered his ...

Shelby Lofton

‘He wasn’t intending to hurt anybody’: Brighton homeowner attorney says snowboarder confrontation was a misunderstanding

The Brighton man armed with a gun while confronting a snowboarder in a viral video is now facing criminal charges. But his attorney says he had the right to protect his property.

10 hours ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Eliza Pace

VIDEO: Watch the moment a UHP trooper stops a 12-year-old driving on the freeway

Utah Highway Patrol responded to a call of a reckless driver. They didn't know until after they stopped the car that it was a 12-year-old driver.

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Utah Boy Receives Hundreds Of Cards Before Surgery