Group throws pirate party for 5-year-old boy who lost eye in shooting

When a Detroit theater troupe heard the story of 5-year-old Donovan Lyles Jr., who lost his eye when he was hit by a stray bullet earlier this year, they knew the perfect way to celebrate his bravery and fighting spirit - a pirate-themed party complete with bags of treasure, swashbuckling costumes and, of course, eye patches.

"When I told him his eye was gone he said he would just have to become a pirate then," his mother Emily Brazelton told ABC News.

And so DJ, as he's known to his friends and family, became "DJ the Daring," thanks to Captain Fishbones and the Pirates of the Forgiven.

DJ was a little shy at first, but once he realized the party for in his honor, he was thrilled by the idea. He couldn't stop sword fighting and hugged everyone he met, according to ABC News.

No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, which happened near DJ's home on Detroit's east side in January. His family moved to a safer neighborhood once he was released form the hospital.

Brazelton says has always been upbeat and resilient and she is just thankful that he's alive.

"I feel ridiculously grateful that I didn't lose my baby."