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Gainesville boy battling leukemia will be honorary Falcons captain Sunday
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Riley Johnson, 6, plays with a Lego train Wednesday that he received for Christmas. Riley, of Gainesville, was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in May and was selected to be an honorary team captain Sunday at the Georgia Dome when the Atlanta Falcons take on the New Orleans Saints. - photo by Erin O. Smith
When Riley Johnson’s parents get discouraged over their 6-year-old son’s illness, he jumps in their laps and tells them everything is going to be OK. Riley was diagnosed in May with B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a blood cancer. He has been taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Scottish Rite hospital for chemotherapy once a week while also taking some treatments at home. The Gainesville boy’s smile and his consistently positive outlook continue to blow away Molly and J.R. Johnson.