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HAZEL PARK, Mich. (WJBK) - A Michigan boy who grew his hair out and donated it to Wigs for Kids six months earlier was just diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin's Lymphoma himself.
Twelve-year-old Torrin Breneman is currently in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s Hospital in Detroit. Since then, the family has seen the community rally behind him in wonderful ways as the child continues to see his health improve.
Torrin’s dad says his spirits are “skyrocketing.” Even the fire department in Hazel Park is #TorrinStrong.
The wave of love is sweeping across the community.
Signs, fundraisers and garage sales have been popping up in the area. There’s even a sign on a pedestrian bridge across Interstate 75.
“I thought, 'Oh God,'” Torrin’s 7-year-old sister, Julissa, told Fox 2 after she discovered her brother was sick. “He protects me from any stuff that could happen.”
She, like many students in Hazel Park, wore green, Torrin’s favorite color, for a day dedicated to him. So far, Hazel Park Junior High, the school Torrin attends, has raised more than $1,300 dollars.
“I just felt devastated when I found out,” Riley Kennedy, a long-time friend of Torrin's, said.
Riley has known Torrin since he was in Kindergarten and is participating with hundreds of other students in ‘Torrin Thursday’ in support of Torrin.
“He’s going through a very hard time, all the treatments, the pain,” Riley said. “Since he’s probably going to see this, he’s probably going to be happy that people actually care about him.”
Family friend Emma Gatti decided to put half the proceeds from a garage sale she’s having toward Torrin’s recovery and treatment.
Torrin's parent say the doctors report he has an 80-85 percent chance of making it through this, an improvement over his first prognosis which brings his family a great deal of hope.
If you would like to donate to Torrin's family for his care, CLICK HERE for the GoFundMe page.