Bath schoolboy Jenson Cutting is raising money for the Wallace & Gromit’s The Grand Appeal as a thank you for the incredible work they did to remove a tumour from his brain.
“I’d been growing my hair for around three years and I had quite a bit of it shaved off at The Bristol Children’s Hospital in September 2020 when I was 9, because I had a brain tumour measuring around 5cm x 5cm (which I used to call my ‘potato’ because Mum said I had something growing in my head and that’s the first thing I though of), that needed to be removed urgently by some really, really clever doctors,” explained Jenson, a Year 6 pupil at Bathampton Primary School.
“I had two surgeries, one lasting several hours to drain the fluid that was dangerously trapped in my head, the other, lasting 14 hours to remove the tumour itself.
“Although my surgeons had to shave off two sections of my hair, they managed to save most of it and now it’s grown way past my shoulders! More importantly, they saved my life and now I’d like to do something to raise money for the hospital that took such good care of me and continues to look after so many other poorly children.
“I’m nearly 11 now and I’m going to secondary school in September, which I’m really excited about! I’ve decided it’s time to cut my hair short again and plan to donate it to The Little Princess Trust, an amazing charity that uses a team of talented wig makers to make wigs from human hair for children who’ve lost their hair due to medical conditions like Leukaemia or Cancer. I know what it’s like to lose a bit of hair and I know what it’s like to be seriously ill, so if I can help someone else to feel a little bit better when they’re poorly that makes me very happy.
“Thanks to everyone on Daisy and Bluebell wards, the Neurosurgical, Oncology and Physio teams and many other heroes at The Bristol Children’s Hospital, including nurses, cleaners and teachers, I have made a full recovery. I also have a very impressive scar running all the way down the back of my head and a little plastic reservoir in the top of my head, which will stay there forever! I’m pleased to say my tumour was benign and there are no signs of it returning. I have an MRI scan every 6 months, just to check!
“If you’d like to sponsor me for cutting off and donating my hair you can do so by clicking here. Sharing my page with others may also help to raise more for this special cause. Most of the money I raise from donating my hair will go to The Wallace And Grommet Grand Appeal, which supports The Bristol Children’s Hospital, but I shall also make a donation to The Little Princess Trust along with my hair!”