Heartbreaking: 7-year-old boy who donated his hair to cancer patients gets diagnosed with stage 4 cancer

California: In a distressing incident, a seven-year-old boy, who grew his hair to 13 inches in two years to donate to cancer patients, has been diagnosed with the disease himself.

Vinny Desautels, who hails from Roseville, California, did not care about being teased when he decided to grow his blond hair for charity.

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In a cruel twist of fate, Vinny was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer shortly after his mother cut his hair and sent it to "Wigs for Kids".

None could imagine that a stinging in Vinny's right eye could later prove to be a tumour. The kid's family also discovered growths around his hip, which was later diagnosed as a tumor in a pelvic bone.

The youngster's eye is swollen now and can't be opened.

Vinny's grandparents Sue and Ron Desautels have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to help the family with medical expenses.

Jason Desautels, talking to The Washington Post, said: "As long as we're there with a smile, telling him he's going to be alright, he has the same attitude...Vinny is like us - an eternal optimist."

Vinny's mother Amanda Azevedo is six-month pregnant and has stopped working at her salon so that she could take care of her son.

Jason Desautels is a US Army veteran, who had served in the infantry for seven years, including in Iraq.