Cancer victim's mom shaves head
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on May 5, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Suzy Hamilton, left, and Amy Hooker share an emotional hug after Suzy shaved her head to honor her son Dillyn's battle with leukemia during a fundraiser for the two families at Morgan's on Friday night.
For the first time Friday night, Morgan's Bar fell silent.
Patrons flocked to the center room, ashing their cigarettes outside and gathering around to watch what was about to happen.
The clock had struck midnight, and it was time for the main event.
Suzy Hamilton and Amy Hooker took center stage.
Then, Suzy took a seat.
Amy grabbed the microphone.
And, as the sound of clippers echoed off the walls of the bar, cheers broke out.
"Thank you all for coming out to support our babies," Amy said, choking back tears. "Just thank you all so much. Now, Suzy's gonna show 'em just how much of a fight we're going to give."
Both women's sons have forms of childhood cancer, and Suzy's son, Dillyn, recently lost his hair due to chemotherapy treatment.
Both Dillyn and Amy's son, Chase, have been receiving treatment at Vidant Hospital in Greenville, and the two boys have become fast friends, often cruising around the hospital in a small car, sometimes with intravenous bags attached, Suzy said.
Suzy made a pact with Dillyn that if he lost his hair she would, too.
So Friday night, encircled by a crowd of hundreds of people, Suzy's hair fell to the ground one clipper stroke at a time.
Suzy was all smiles as her hair came off, crying at the realization of the vast amount of support her and Amy's families have received from the community.
When the last tuft of her hair hit the ground, the crowd erupted.
Suzy and Amy sobbed as they embraced each other, knowing firsthand the stark reality behind the symbolic gesture of shaving off hair.
More than a dozen people also shaved their hair -- or beard -- in support of the young boys, raising more than $8,500 Friday night that will be split evenly between the two families.
Suzy said more than 300 barbecue plates were sold at the event.
"The amount of people that supported us was amazing," Suzy said. "The amount of people who have continued to support both families is more than you could imagine."
Suzy said that she and Amy have become a support system for each other as they go through the experience of having children with forms of childhood cancer.
"It was awesome that Amy made her speech, and was there to see it," Suzy said. "She has become a big part of my support."
Although Suzy went from having shoulder-length hair to having no hair at all, she said she has been prepared for months.
"I've been prepared for this since September, so I guess I was really OK with it," Suzy said. "It was a bit overwhelming but great with all of the people (who came Friday night)."
And, when Suzy first saw Dillyn after the event, he was visibly thrilled by what his mother had done to support him, she said.
"The look on Dillyn's face was priceless," Suzy said. "He has been all smiles and has been rubbing my head."