A 7-year-old boy didn’t want his cancer diagnosed buddy to struggle alone, and he shaved his head so they can be bald together.
One day at Woolden Hill Primary School, Olly Spencer noticed something unusual about one of his classmates. He saw that Tommy-Lee Hetherington had lost his hair. Olly felt he had to do something to support his friend. He asked his mom if he could shave his hair so his pal doesn’t feel alone.
Tommy-Lee was diagnosed with leukemia in November last year and has been in remission ever since. After Olly had his head shaved so Tommy isn’t the only kid in school without hair, the two boys have become best friends.
When Olly was telling their story to Leicestershire Live, he said:
“I came home from school and asked my mummy if I could shave my head, so Tommy-Lee wasn’t the only boy in school with no hair. Tommy-Lee has become my best friend. We play and work together at school.”
Shaving his head wasn’t the only noble thing this kindhearted kid did to help his friend.
Olly has also raised £1,200 for Macmillan to help other sick children at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Olly adds that when he saw Tommy-Lee had no hair, he felt very sad. He didn’t want his friend to be alone and he wanted to help somehow. Olly simply wanted Tommy’s cancer to go away.
“I raised money for the charity that supports him and others by shaving my head, so we could both be bald together. We are best friends and always look out for each other in everything we do. Tommy-Lee will always be my best friend and I will support him wherever I can.“
Tommy-Lee’s diagnose devastated his family. His mother, Kelly, shares that they never expected something so terrible to happen to little Tommy. This turned their lives upside down.
“They told us his treatment will last for three and a half years. He started his chemotherapy immediately with an intensive stage of steroids, blood transfusions and lumbar punctures. But through every stage, he has been upbeat and taken everything in his stride, a real brave little soldier who doesn’t deserve this cruel illness.“
During the treatment, the child had to battle sepsis, a collapsed lung, and an enlarged pancreas.
“Olly has always been helpful to his peers. Tommy-Lee started school in the new term and Olly went out of his way to ensure he felt welcomed and not alone.”
She adds that when Olly and Tommy-lee became friends, her boy quickly noticed something wasn’t right. He knew his friend was ill, but he didn’t really understand the illness. So after a few days, when Olly got home from school, he told his mommy:
“I want to help people like Tommy-Lee, I don’t want him to be at school alone with no hair, I want to shave my head.”
As soon as people heard Olly and Tommy-Lee’s story, they started to donate and support the ‘Brave and Shave‘ duo.
At such a young age, these kids are showing us that you don’t have to be a superhero to brighten up someone’s life. You just have to be kind and thoughtful.
