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When Kyler Hartz was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, he spent time at the Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls and noticed kids without hair due to cancer treatments.
“He asked us about them and later decided he would grow his own hair and donate it,” said Kyler’s dad, Paul Hartz, rural Luverne.
That was a year ago, and Kyler’s hair was already shoulder length, but since then it grew past his shoulders and down his back.
“Kyler was picked on because of his long hair,” Paul said, adding that his son is no stranger to difficulties.
“Type 1 diabetes is the kind you need to take insulin for,” Paul said. “You live with it, but it’s a daily struggle.”
Kyler, now 13, sat in a barber’s chair at Salon 75 Saturday afternoon to have his foot-long hair divided into tied locks and cut off in eight 12-inch segments.
They will be donated to Hair for Kids in memory of Ethan Erickson, who died of cancer last month at age 12. He was a fellow student at Hills-Beaver Creek where Kyler is now in the eighth grade.
Deb Hartz said she’s proud of her son’s compassionate spirit.
“I don’t think you see too many boys decide to do something like this,” she said.
“With Ethan being so close and in a small school, it hit all the kids pretty hard.”
Deb said Kyler is adjusting to his new look, but he wished he had left it a little longer. “I think it’s been a little cold,” she said.