Jersey Proud: Police from around the world send patches to 7-year-old with rare medical condition

There is a 7-year-old boy in Ocean County who believes that police officers are the bravest people in the world. But to many of these officers, Jaxon Fuge is the bravest little boy.

Matt Trapani and Kurt Siegelin

May 2, 2023, 9:36 PM

Updated 374 days ago

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There is a 7-year-old boy in Ocean County who believes that police officers are the bravest people in the world. But to many of these officers, Jaxon Fuge is the bravest little boy.
Jaxon recently went on a tour of the Lacy Police Department. He got to answer the phones, turn on sirens, and even locked a News 12 photographer in a jail cell for just a little while.
He is mischievous and fun. He is a typical 7-year-old with an atypical condition,” says Jaxon’s mother, Staci Fugue.
Jaxon was diagnosed with NF1 Neurofibromatosis. One wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at him, but there are 10 non-cancerous tumors inside his body.
He came to the Lacy Police Department as part of a cheering up – and also to get a police department patch.
"He says that the bravest people in the entire world are police officers. So if he had their patches, that he would be brave,” Stacy Fugue says.
This was the start of his collection. The first few police patches were sewn onto a cape, and it transformed Jaxon into a superhero to fight his condition. The family put out a plea for more on Facebook and “Patches for Jax” went viral.
Police departments from all over the world responded.
"He's been getting letters, notes of encouragement. It's so amazing,” says Staci Fugue.
The family has gotten so many patches, they need bins to carry them all. It is closing in on 3,000 patches at last check.
"Seeing the look on his face when he sees all these packages with his name on it, there's a lot of good people in this world,” says Jaxon’s father, Dan Fuge.
"To him it's everything. Putting light in his life. It's bringing a smile to his face during this terrifying medical stuff,” Stacy Fuge says.
There's been a lot of medical stuff. For two years there have been continual tests and treatments. He goes through it all with a blanket and his cape loaded with patches.
“He walks in with that cape on, and he says, ‘I’m good. Let’s do this,’” says Staci Fuge.
Jaxon’s parents say that this is the part of childhood that they want him to remember, and not the doctors and medical stuff.
“I want him to remember meeting so many incredible people, so many people being supportive of him and loving him. And getting all this love in the mail,” Staci Fuge says.
Jaxon’s prognosis is unclear. A couple of the tumors are in dicey locations. He sees doctors on a regular basis and is managing the condition.


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