THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Bella Yates will do anything for her best friend Toot.
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At a time when many teenagers her age are preoccupied with self-image and doubt, Bella is thinking of her sick mate and is shaving off her own golden locks to support her.
Because Toot, also known as Tallulah Nixon, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia back in November after suffering from ongoing cold and flu like symptoms. She has been living in Newcastle receiving daily treatment ever since.
“I’ve known her for about 10 years, since we were at Barrington Street Daycare together,” Bella said.
“She’s my best friend.”
It’s as simple as that. But no matter how close any relationship, it’s always going to be hard knowing how to help, so making the decision to raise funds by shaving her head and joining Toot in a number one crew cut has been relatively easy.
“Toot had so much hair,” Bella said.
“But she was losing it from the treatment, so she chose to shave it off a month or so ago.”
But Bella describes the friend she has known all through primary and now high school as “positive and tough”, by all accounts handling her illness well despite having to live at Ronald McDonald house since her diagnosis and now, John Hunter Hospital itself.
“She’s very bright and bubbly and happy and unique. I’ve never seen her really sad,” Bella said, turning to her mother for confirmation.
“They have a pretty special relationship,” her mother Lee agreed.
“The family were hoping to be home a couple of weeks ago, and just travel down for treatment, but then she got sick and went into hospital,” Lee said, saying she was moved there after getting a temperature late February.
“Now she needs to have her appendix out but they need to wait until she is well enough... But I understand the prognosis is good,” she said, adding treatment would need to continue for the next couple of years.
With Toot’s older sister in Year 12 at Gloucester High School and her father regularly working away, there’s no doubt any support will help.
“Bella has already had someone offer her $100 for her hair towards the fundraiser,” Lee said.
“He’s put it out there that anyone’s welcome to beat it.”
The last time Bella had a proper hair cut was four years ago, and whilst excited she is also nervous.
“I care a little bit of how I will look but I don’t really care, because Toot doesn’t have the choice,” she said, adding her friend had told her she was grateful for Bella’s meaningful gesture.
“We are hoping Toot can do it if she can get out of hospital.”
But with that looking increasingly unlikely, her mother has offered to pick up the shears for the deed on Easter Saturday March 26.
“It’s hard to know how to help. For everyone. No one knows really what to do..,” she said, her voice trailing off.
Well, here’s one way. Donations for Bella’s cause for the Nixon family can be made either through Sid Yates at Darryl’s Gourmet Butchery until Saturday March 26, 12 pm, or online at www.gofundme.com/ekdu6brg.
All proceeds will go to the Nixon family.