When Dwyane “DJ” Pitts was just three years old, he fell very sick, and the outlook of him overcoming looked grim.

DJ, now 8 years old, drank some chemicals when he was a toddler, and it looked like he wouldn’t survive.

DJ’s mom, Natoya, shares the story, “He was in a coma for eight days. [The] chemicals burned him from the tip of his lip to two inches into his intestines,” destroying his insides.  The medical team at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta faced the daunting challenge in helping DJ to recover, as they worked to reconstruct his esophagus and stomach. 

DJ remained hospitalized for many months, when a nurse had an idea — to make a superhero cape out of a pillowcase, hoping it would encourage the little boy.

Encourage it did! The cape helped DJ’s spirit remain strong, though his body wasn’t, and he quickly became known as a the resident little superhero.

Word of “Cape Boy” started getting around, and even musician Ludacris recognized the young patient while at the hospital for an event, saying, “Hey, there is the Cape boy!”

Five years later, and DJ still wears his cape.

He went back to the Children’s hospital to show his appreciation to those who helped him recover. Through this ordeal, DJ learned about strength in spreading kindness, the importance of helping others and being grateful.

DJ even brought a card and flowers to the nurse that had the idea for the cape, Nurse Colleen.  She became more than just the nurse looking after DJ, she turned into family.

Though they hadn’t seen each other in a few years, it was like no time had past when they shared a hug that was proof the bond between DJ and Nurse Colleen hadn’t faded.

This is the story that inspired Cape Day, a community campaign that helps kids just like DJ.

Cape Day is now an annual tradition, celebrated on October 19, and part of a Kindness Campaign, encouraging others to do a good deed in their community to honor patients of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta .

You can get a head start on next year’s Cape Day by ordering a cape to wear or sponsor a cape for a patient.

(MSN)