By Caitlin V. Reidy
Detective David Johnson of the Sterling Police Department is many things; he’s a father, husband, police
officer, and most recently, he’s an inspiration for those who are fighting cancer and in need of moral
support.
Detective Johnson has been in law enforcement in Sterling for nearly 30 years and stated that his favorite
part of his job is the people he works with, the individuals he serves, and “that everyday is different.”
His love for his community, dedication to an active lifestyle, and successful career is what made an Acute
Myeloid Leukemia (AML) diagnosis in November 2020 so shocking.
“On November 12, 2020, I received my cancer diagnosis,” Detective Johnson stated. “The first thought
that went through my mind was what is going to happen to my wife and children?”
“Before we knew the official diagnosis, I knew something was going on,” Melissa Johnson, wife of
Detective Johnson, stated. “There was one Sunday when I looked out the window, and I saw my husband
leaning up against something, as if he was short of breath. At first, I thought it might have been Covid,”
Mrs. Johnson stated. Detective Johnson said that his wife was previously a phlebotomist in a bone
marrow unit and recognized the signs in his facial coloring as well as his lethargic demeanor.
Mrs. Johnson stated that in the next few days she observed her husband, who usually stayed active with
crossfit and running, show excessive signs of exhaustion. When she brought her husband to the
emergency room for a blood test, she immediately asked the doctor if he was suffering from a type of
Leukemia.
“I just had a gut instinct that this was something serious, such as Leukemia,” Mrs. Johnson stated.
Mrs. Johnson was correct about her husband’s illness. Detective Johnson was diagnosed with AML and
immediately began blood transfusions. Though originally diagnosed with cancer at Memorial Hospital in
Worcester, Detective Johnson said that he was transported to UMASS Oncology for “further testing.” He
went through the initial rounds of chemotherapy, while waiting for a bone marrow and stem cell
transplant.
Detective Johnson compared chemotherapy to a brand new computer without spyware. “It knocks you
down, before you can be built back up.” He also said that during treatment, he lost a lot of weight, could
barely walk, always felt sick, and was “very dependent on others.”
Eventually, he went to Dana Farber in Boston, where he received something very special from his son,
David. In need of a bone marrow transplant, Detective Johnson’s 18-year-old son stepped up to the plate,
and without hesitation, donated his own bone marrow to help his father fight cancer.
“David was a 50% match,” Mrs. Johnson stated. “I remember telling him that there was no pressure and
that he did not need to do this.”
With tears in her eyes and a proud, yet humble, appreciation for her son, Mrs. Johnson said that David
simply replied, “I’m doing this.” Bone marrow transplants are typically a painful experience for the donor
and require a hospital stay and recovery time. David had the procedure done in Children’s Hospital in
Boston, and stayed the evening. After the surgery, Mrs. Johnson said that a chaplain blessed the cells
before they were transplanted into her husband. According to Mrs. Johnson, her son never complained
about any discomfort associated with the operation, but was instructed by medical professionals to stay
away from sporting activities for at least six weeks.
“It was an honor to be my father’s donor,” David Johnson stated. “He’s always been the one to help
everyone without expecting anything in return. A year later, seeing my dad smiling, and being around the
people he loves, showed me two things: One, it was all worth it, and two, I would do it all over again in a
heartbeat.”
“David is my hero,” Detective Johnson said. After David recovered, he got a tattoo with an orange cancer
awareness ribbon on the site where his bone marrow was extracted. According to David, he got the
number “44” in the middle of the tattoo, which is in honor of his father’s badge number. In addition, the
words, “No one fights alone,” was permanently etched into the ribbon.
“He was never in this battle alone,” David stated. “The tattoo is a recognition of the bond between my
father and me. I wanted him to know that I’m proud to have him as my father, and I will always be here
for him when times get tough.”
And so times were tough. According to Detective Johnson, there were days when he was in the hospital
and he couldn’t get out of bed. He also said that many days in the intensive care unit “were a blur.” In
addition, he had to fight both Covid-19 and pneumonia while he was in the hospital and was fighting for
his life.
However, despite the hardships that Detective Johnson faced, he tells his story with a remarkable humility
and appreciation for his friends, family, and force. He shared stories of his fellow police officers offering
moral support, and expressed the appreciation he felt for his community members who started meal trains
for his family.
“There are so many good people out there,” Detective Johnson stated. “I never had to worry.”
He also stated that through GoFundMe, a substantial amount of money was raised for his family, and if
there’s anything left of it, he’s donating it to help others going through the same situation. According to
both Detective Johnson and Mrs. Johnson, people who didn’t even know him, but knew of his situation,
were sending gift cards, money, and letters of encouragement in the mail.
When asked about the role his wife played in his recovery, Detective Johnson replied, “She took care of
everyone. She’s amazing.” He articulated that while he was bedridden in the hospital, his wife “kept the
household going,” and referred to her as “Superwoman.”
“Caretakers need help too,” Detective Johnson emphasized. “My wife made sure that my kids were taken
care of and made the commute to Boston to see me.” He also stated that now that he is coming “out of the
woods,” he wants to “bring his wife on vacation.”
Detective Johnson returned to work on February 14, 2022. Gary Chamberland, Chief of Police in Sterling,
stated that when he first knew Detective Johnson was coming back, he didn’t know what to expect.
However, the day Detective Johnson returned, Chief Chamberland stated that it was as if “he had never
left.”
“People gravitate towards DJ [Detective Johnson],” Chief Chamberland stated. “It was hard when he was
gone. When stuck, or in the middle of a situation, we often found ourselves asking, what would DJ do?”
Chief Chamberland also said that Detective Johnson brings a “good face and sense of community
policing.” He also stated that he wants him to “stay here as long as he wants to be a police officer.”
Now that Detective Johnson is back on the job, he conveyed that he has a new outlook on life and wants
to give back in a way he never had to before. “If anyone is going through this, I want them to know that
they can talk to me about this.” Mrs. Johnson also exclaimed that she wants people to know that if they or
a loved one is going through this, they are encouraged to reach out to them.
From the wise and humble words of Detective Johnson, “If you are going through this, there will be dark
days ahead, however, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Detective Johnson recently had his follow-up appointment at Dana Farber and stated that his platelets
are improving. Positive, upbeat, and with his light shining brightly, Sterling is proud to say “welcome
back” to one of its town’s finest.
