3rd-graders shave their heads to support classmate


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There's a little girl at Primary Children's Medical Center who just started chemotherapy to treat a rare form of liver cancer. Treatments caused her hair to fall out, but after today she won't be the only one in her class without hair.

A group of third-grade boys at Morgan Elementary School in Kaysville are making a big sacrifice.

"We're going to shave our heads ‘cause Emmalee Havertz has cancer and she lost her hair; so we're going to show her that she's not alone and we can shave our heads too," Tyler explained.

Three weeks ago, doctors diagnosed little Emmalee with the rare form of liver cancer, which is usually found in adults. Chemotherapy robbed Emmalee of her long dark hair.

After missing a month of school, many of her classmates wanted to do something for her. Cari Carroll, a classroom mom, began brainstorming.

3rd-graders shave their heads to support classmate

"They miss her and they know what they've been told about cancer, but they don't understand all of it, and they can't do anything. And I thought this was something they could give back to her and show support for her and say, ‘I did something for someone else,'" Carroll explained.

So Carroll sent letters home with the boys, emphasizing that no one was obligated to participate. But eight out of the 11 boys in the class stepped up, excited to help show Emmalee they care.

3rd-graders shave their heads to support classmate

One of the boys' grandpas is a barber and volunteered to do the shaving.

When we asked the boys how they hoped shaving their heads would make Emmalee feel, Parker said it best: "Happy, really."

Although their heads might be a little colder this winter, their act of kindness is sure to warm one little girl's heart.

Emmalee has no idea the boys in her class did this. Tomorrow morning, a mother to one of the boys is going to deliver a DVD of the boys getting their hair cut. Emmalee will get it right before her second round of chemotherapy.

E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com

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