A 7-year-old California boy who donated his hair to cancer patients has been diagnosed with cancer.
Despite being mocked by other children, Vinny Desautels spent two years growing out his blond hair to 13 inches, the Daily Mail reports.
“I want to help people, so they don't have to go to the doctors to fight cancer,” Vinny explained.
When children teased that he looked like a girl, the boy shrugged the criticism off.
“During that time, he was mistaken for a girl many times, but Vinny took it like a champ and was like, 'Nah, I'm a boy,'” his father Jason, a combat veteran, said.
Shortly after he cut off his long hair to donate, Vinny was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
Vinny reportedly came home from school complaining of knee pain. Before long, doctors discovered he had a growth around his hips.
When they saw a bone growing around his eye and right cheek, they feared their original assumption it was just an allergy wasn’t the case. Instead, they worried the two issues may be linked.
Doctors say they are still trying to find out what kind of cancer the boy has. In addition to their son’s medical expenses, they are expecting another child.
Vinny's grandparents, Sue and Ron Desautels, have set up a GoFundMe account under the name “VICTORY for VINNY” to help the family. They hope to raise $100,000.
They wrote on the page:
“Our precious grandson, Vinny Desautels, is fighting a battle that no child should have to fight - the fight against cancer. He recently donated his hair to 'wigs for kids with cancer'. Even though he was teased throughout the 2 years of growing his hair out, it didn't deter him from his mission… to help a child in need.
“There are many more tests ahead and they're in the hospital for an undetermined amount of time. Over the next days, weeks, and months ahead they will need to be at countless doctor appointments, hospital stays and surgeries. As you can imagine the normal costs of everyday living… such as rent, food, gas, car, etc… the medical costs can be astronomical. This will enable Vinny's parents be able to concentrate on Vinny getting well and fighting this wicked disease called cancer.”