10-year-old grows hair for 2 years so his friend with cancer could have her hair back

For 2 years, 10-year-old Tyler Boone let his hair grow past his shoulders, brushing off teasing and confusion, so that he could give a meaningful gift to a friend who couldn’t grow her own. The Georgia boy’s journey came full circle in 2016 at a JCPenney store inside Florida’s Westfield Brandon Mall, where he sat in a chair with his best friend Gabby Ruiz by his side. Cameras clicked as the 12-year-old from Riverview gently picked up scissors and cut the ponytail he had been growing just for her. The hair, a full 12 inches long, would be used to make Ruiz a wig.

Ruiz has lived with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss, since she was 4 years old. According to the Australian Journal of General Practice, it affects about 1 in 1000 people, with a lifetime risk of 2%. She and Boone met years ago at family gatherings when Boone still lived in Florida. After meeting Ruiz a few times, Boone was curious about why she always covered her head, and he asked his mom, Denise Boone, about it. "We explained that Gabby had a condition that wouldn't let her grow hair," Denise told ABC News. That's when he decided he would grow his hair for his friend. "He said, 'Well, it's just hair. I can grow hair,'" mentioned Denise, his mother. That simple line became the start of a two-year commitment. 

Tyler faced more than just the physical task of growing his hair; he was mistaken for a girl more times than he could count, but he never wavered. "I’m used to it now," he said, adding, "I just want to make her happy." With a tape measure in hand, the friends laughed and posed for photos, and then Ruiz carefully snipped off the ponytail, marking the end of Tyler’s two-year project. The hair was sent to the nonprofit Children With Hair Loss, which crafted a wig specifically for Ruiz. After the big cut, the two walked together to a salon inside the mall, where Tyler chose a new look. "If the spike doesn’t work, I’m going to buzz cut it," he joked. With Ruiz watching nearby, stylists trimmed, shaped, and shaved until the generous boy emerged with a brand new buzz cut and the same beaming smile.

Ruiz's mother, Emelia Ruiz, said the moment touched her deeply. "She’s gone through so much. I think just being a mom and seeing another young kid wanting to help and be a part of something caring and selfless, I think it’s very special," she said, adding that Gabby is "very quiet and to herself until she gets to know people." But on that day, she stayed by her friend’s side, watching every snip and clip with focused eyes. Tyler’s father, Jason Boone, said his son made the decision completely on his own. "This is Tyler’s personality, and it’s not something we encouraged him to do. They’ve been friends, and Tyler has done some things [for Gabby] as acts of kindness," he told ABC News.

The wig was ready in about six weeks. "She’s been comfortable with herself regardless, but she’s at that age. She wants something different. She’s excited to try [the wig]," Emelia explained. Tyler’s parents shared that they were very proud of what their son did, and were grateful for his "super-big heart." Approximately 6.7 million people suffer from alopecia in the United States, with 1 in 1000 kids getting affected.