The firefighter brotherhood — always ready to put everything on the line for others — lined up with smiles to sacrifice their hair in a “buzz-off” for the young son of one of their own in his fight against cancer.
Four-year-old Tommy Kelly of Dorchester and his father, Boston firefighter and Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts President Edward Kelly, along with Tommy’s mother and sister, were joined by firefighters and other supporters, young and old, of Tommy’s fight against stage 4 kidney cancer.
Volunteer hairdressers did the honors at Florian Hall in Dorchester, administering wiffle-style haircuts all day, with all proceeds going to support Tommy in his fight.
A website dedicated to Tommy says he was taken to Children’s Hospital on June 8 after telling his parents he was having stomachaches.
Doctors diagnosed Tommy with stage 4 kidney cancer and, within days, confirmed a Wilms’ tumor, an often treatable cancer. However, the cancer had already spread to his lungs. Tommy’s tough road ahead includes chemotherapy, surgery and additional chemotherapy for several months.
To make a donation or send a message of support to Tommy and his family, ?go to fightliketk.com.