A Mother’s Day Letter to CJ

This Mother’s Day, my heart is filled with both love and longing.

CJ—my son, my light, my joy—should be home right now. He should be walking through the door with his bags after finishing his freshman year of college. We should be laughing, catching up on everything that happened this semester, talking about summer plans, and dreaming about what’s next.

But instead, I sit here with memories. Photos. Jerseys. His water bottle. And the silence.

From the time CJ was five, he was in motion. He started with T-ball, tried basketball, and fell in love with baseball. Not just the game, but the grind. He played travel ball for nearly a decade—tournaments across Florida, North Carolina, Alabama. He trained hard. He hit harder. He grew into a power-hitter, a fierce lineman, and a respected teammate.

He added football in middle school, played both sports through high school, and never let up. He practiced more than he played. He stayed focused. He stayed humble.

CJ had sickle cell trait—a genetic marker, not a disease. He lived 18 full, healthy years. Because he trained smart, stayed hydrated, and took care of his body. He never had any complications or symptoms from SCT—not once. He was always aware of what his body needed and how to prepare for the demands of competitive sports. Note according to the agenda, the Day 1 workout was to be just weightlifting techniques

CJ had dreams—big ones. He had over 10 Division I football offers. He wanted to be a pharmacist. He chose Bucknell because he believed it would help him grow on and off the field.

But just two days after arriving on campus, CJ was gone.

As a family, we are still waiting for full transparency and answers. We continue to honor CJ’s life by sharing his story, and by advocating for stronger protections for college athletes across the country.

I remain proud. Proud of the young man CJ was. Proud of what he stood for. Proud of the legacy he leaves behind.

This letter is for him. For every athlete with a dream. And for every mother who loves her child more than words can hold.

Forever 18. CJ will be forever in my heart.

—Mom

The Nation Is Listening: Calvin’s Story Is Being Heard

On April 2, 2025, we filed a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of our son, Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. Since that day, CJ’s story has reached national audiences—and now, the world is beginning to understand what we’ve known all along: his death was preventable.

Major outlets including

ESPN,

NPR,

People Magazine,

Fox News,

NBC Philadelphia,

University Cube,

and ABC7 Chicago

have shared Calvin’s story, exposing the dangers of outdated, punishing football conditioning practices and the failure to protect athletes with sickle cell trait—a condition CJ had, and Bucknell knew about.

These stories are painful to read—but they are necessary. They show that CJ’s voice lives on, and that his life—and his loss—will not be buried behind silence or institutional spin.

We’re grateful to the journalists who have elevated this issue with integrity and care. But we are not relying on headlines alone. We are fighting for justice, accountability, and reform so that no other family has to endure what we’ve been through.

“Our son should still be here. We’re not just seeking justice for Calvin—we’re fighting to make sure no other family feels this pain.”

Please help us continue to tell CJ’s story. Share the articles. Share the truth. Use the hashtag #JusticeForCalvin and stand with us as we demand change.

This movement is only beginning.

In Calvin’s Honor,

The Dickey Family

Family of CJ Dickey to Move Forward with Legal Action A Call for Truth and Accountability

April 2, 2025

The family of Calvin “CJ” Dickey Jr. has made the decision to move forward with litigation against Bucknell University. This decision follows months of unanswered requests for full transparency about what led to CJ’s death on July 12, 2024 — and the university’s handling of that tragic day. Despite submitting his full medical history, including confirmation of his sickle cell trait, CJ was subjected to an extreme workout on his first day of training. He collapsed and later died from complications tied to exertional rhabdomyolysis and multiple organ failure.

To this day, Bucknell has not released a full, detailed account of what occurred, nor have they provided the family with findings from their internal investigation. The family, along with their attorneys, will be holding a press conference on April 2, 2025. Click here to view the press conference live stream.

This legal action marks a crucial step in the family's ongoing pursuit of truth, accountability, and change — not just for CJ, but for the safety of all student-athletes.