Officer Fights Tears While Praying for 9-Year-Old Boy Before Brain Surgery
Anxiety flooded through the small frame of 9-year-old Jalen Manns, a Georgia boy diagnosed with a brain tumor in May.
The morning of July 13 had dawned, and it was time for Jalen to wake up and go to the hospital for brain surgery.
Jalen left his bedroom, his favorite stuffed animals — German shepherds — strewn about his bed. It was only 6 a.m., and there was a sudden knock at the front door.
Jalen’s worried mother, Hannah Manns, opened the door. She found a half-dozen police officers waiting in her front yard and they wanted to speak with Jalen.
As Jalen emerged, hesitant and anxiety-ridden, he found a huge surprise waiting for him outside.
Members of the Warner Robins Police Department had caught wind that Jalen was a fan of German shepherds, and they had brought their K-9’s to wish Jalen well before his scary ordeal.
As Jalen knelt down to pet one of the K-9’s, an officer bent down beside him and began to pray.
Passionately, the officer prayed that the Lord’s strength and peace would be with Jalen and his mother on this day.
The officer became choked up as he prayed over the boy, empathizing with Jalen’s frightening situation.
Then, it was time to go. The officers escorted Jalen and his mother to the hospital, walked inside with him and helped him get settled.
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Hannah Manns told CBS News that Jalen struggled with high anxiety, especially since his brain tumor diagnosis. But having the officers there with him gave the boy the strength he needed to move forward with confidence.
“He didn’t want (the officers) to leave,” Manns said. “I told him they have to protect our city and our homes and where we live.”
The officers stayed with Jalen as long as they could, but eventually, it was time for Jalen’s procedure to begin. “They all wanted to follow up with him,” Manns said.
Manns said the flood of encouragement from the WRPD left her speechless. The officers offered to visit Jalen again, once he was healthy enough to receive visitors.
Manns posted a photo of her son post-op, saying everything went well and Jalen was in recovery. By his side were at least a half-dozen toy German shepherds, watching over the little boy every step of the way.
His mother has set up a Facebook page to keep people updated on her son, as well as a GoFundMe account to help with medical costs.
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