After a more than year-long battle, 5-year-old boy dies from brain cancer

The 5-year-old boy who bravely fought against cancer and won the hearts and support of the community died on Saturday.

“(He was) so full of life and energy, you would have never been able to tell when you were around him, that he had brain cancer,”saidR.J.’s godmother, Jamie Perkins.

When R.J. Seeburg was diagnosed with brain cancer in March 2011 the community rallied around him.

Papa John’s Pizza donated proceeds from sales to help R.J.’s parents, Robert and Micha Seeburg, with medical expenses.

“He had been given six weeks to six months and we just did everything we possibly could with him and for him,” said Perkins.

Defying the prognosis, R.J. battled the disease for more than a year. He was able to see one more birthday, according to Perkins.

“That was a very good birthday for him, he enjoyed it he was able to soak it in,” Perkins said he celebrated five years of life on Nov. 2.

The incredible child still enjoyed kid-stuff, said Perkins,”Some of his favorite characters were the super heroes.”

But to his family, R.J. was the one with superpowers.

“He was just a hero for everybody,” said Perkins. “He was so alive and full of energy, that’s the way we want to remember him.”