CBS ATLANTA – Eight-year-old BJ Cross loves to dance.
Whether it’s in a hospital hallway or the lobby of the new Ronald McDonald House in Brookhaven, his energy fills the room. But behind that joy is a journey that has tested him and his family for years.
BJ was diagnosed in 2019 at just 4 years old with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. That condition later led to interstitial lung disease, a rare and chronic respiratory disorder that makes it difficult to breathe.
Last October, BJ was admitted to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Arthur M. Blank Hospital for a bone marrow transplant. His mother, Latoya Cross, says doctors once warned the family to prepare for the worst.
“They said he probably had about five years life expectancy,” she said. “He’s eight now.”
Through hospital stays, chemotherapy, and months of uncertainty, BJ kept dancing.
For more than 75 nights, BJ and his family have stayed at the new Ronald McDonald House Atlanta, which officially opened in December, steps away from the hospital campus. The facility allows families traveling for specialized medical care to stay close to their children at little to no cost.
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As a senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman is a strategic communications leader specializing in media relations and reputation management. With a proven track record of securing high-profile placements in top-tier outlets such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and USA Today, he excels at crafting compelling narratives that resonate across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
Mike Touhill is vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, where he helps lead traditional, social and digital media programs for B2B and B2C clients in packaging, telecommunications and technology, among other industries. As a communication leader, he develops and executes public relations strategy, provides proactive and reactive counsel to C-level executives and secures earned media coverage for client initiatives and product.
Andrew Agan is a vice president at Cookerly Public Relations, overseeing the agency’s internship program and leading media relations, content strategy and social media initiatives. He provides counsel and executes campaigns for clients across various sectors, including finance, healthcare, hospitality, technology, automotive and many others. Andrew excels at crafting compelling stories and building media relationships, resulting in clients being featured in notable outlets such as CNBC, Associated Press, Business Insider, Fox Business, HBO, Inc. Magazine, Sirius XM, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, among others.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.