Sibling lets younger brother with childhood leukemia shave his head

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children under 14 years old.

In Southwest Florida, we have our own young community members who are experiencing childhood cancer. WINK News got to capture a special moment between two brothers, who displayed their special bond. And it was just one way we could help bring awareness to these childhood diseases.

Brothers Jordan and Austin DeLorenzo are as close as they come, always locked in a hug or a loving headlock.

“If someone punches your little brother, you punch them harder, but I couldn’t,” Austin said. “You can’t really punch a disease.”

Jordan has been receiving treatment for the disease the last two and a half years, so he thought it was a regular day at Golisano Children’s Hospital Tuesday when he showed up.

“He thinks he’s having a regular appointment, so I don’t think he’s going to be happy at first,” Austin said.

But Austin decided to give his little brother a gift.

“Today, I’m letting my little brother shave my head,” Austin said. “We get the choice: How long we want our hair, what color we want our hair, you know, if we want hair at all. We get that choice; they don’t. So to give my brother the power to make the choice for me, it just feels right.”

The family and hospital staff kept the secret.

The two brothers had an emotional hug together before the haircut.

Jordan kept his mask on the whole time while he got to shave his brothers hair off his head, but you could tell he was smiling.

Jordan DeLorenzo, 14, is scheduled to complete chemo Aug. 2, 2021. He started school virtually Monday at Ida Baker High School. He wants to enroll in the medical academy program, with dreams of becoming a doctor or nurse in oncology to help kids like him. Watch live on Facebook as pediatric cancer survivors shave the heads of community leaders. Each person having their head shaved has a personal goal of raising $2,500 or more to support kids with cancer and the pediatric hematology and oncology program at Golisano Children’s Hospital.

More than half of the children treated for cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital are uninsured, on Medicaid or have no form of payment. Because of Barbara’s Friends, no child is denied treatment or turned away as a result of their family’s inability to pay for care.

You can make a donation by visiting BarbarasFriends.org/ClipsForCancer.

MORE: Clips for Cancer Facebook page