California boy who donated hair for cancer patients now battling cancer

0509 calif cancer boyRoseville, California (KTXL/CNN) – For two years, 7-year-old Vinny Desautels grew out his hair, all to help kids with cancer. Vinny said, “I want to help people so they don’t have to go to the doctors to fight cancer.”

When he donated his hair, 13 inches of locks were gone with the snip of some scissors. Vinny was happy to help, a moment of selfless service, asking for nothing in return.

Jason Desautels, Vinny’s dad, said, “During that time he was mistaken for a girl many times, but Vinny took it like a champ and was like ‘No, I`m a boy”.”

But life can sometimes take a cruel turn. “And it is a stage four aggressive cancer,” said Vinny’s dad.

A little boy, giving selflessly to help those suffering with cancer, is now battling the disease himself. Vinny’s dad said, “Basically what they found is that he has a significant growth on his hip and in the bone around the eye and behind the nose, and on the cheek on the right side.”

The sweet 7-year-old, optimistic, but ever the realist, tried to make sense of the diagnosis. He said, “Well the veins from my hip are traveling to another place right behind my eye and it’s making it squinty.” Squinty, and tough to see perhaps, but one thing is clear. Vinny is a fighter, and he won’t be in this battle alone.

Vinny’s mom said, “I think as long as we are doing this as a family, we got this.” Vinny’s grandparents have set up a Go-Fund-Me page to help with medical and other costs.

So far, the page has raised more than $35,000.

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