11-year-old befriended homeless amputee and asked if he could cut his hair—it turned into a life-changing experience
The smallest act of kindness can transform into a core memory in the blink of an eye. A mom named Molly Hoffman was proud to share how her 11-year-old son, Ty, initiated this core memory for a homeless amputee, David, per Love What Matters. The man resorted to living on the streets until a little boy with a friendly hope came his way. His simple request to cut David’s hair and the man’s humble approval helped turn a casual act into a life-changing experience. It all started when the 24k Barber Lounge opened just near Ty’s home. He and his brother, Kash, were invested in hanging out there.
“Ty, a fanatic about his hair, came home from getting a haircut one day and proclaimed his commitment to becoming a barber,” the mom recalled. He was determined to the point where he became an apprentice to the staff at the lounge. Delighted to share their skill, the crew taught him all they could. Ty was eager to try his skills on a fresh set of hair and would ask everyone around if he could cut their hair. When he met David, a homeless amputee sleeping outside a gas station, he eventually befriended him and asked the same question. “Ty, Kash, and a few of their friends swing by to bring David water, a bag of chips and engage in a bit of small talk to pass the time.”
When the duo became friends, Ty asked if he could cut his hair. When David declined and said, “Maybe tomorrow,” the 11-year-old held him to his word. “How about today, David? Can I cut your hair?” he asked him the following day. “David thought for a few moments and finally said, ‘Well, okay. Today is okay,” the mom recounted. The man decided to give his friend a shot and that’s where magic unfolded. Ty grabbed the equipment, his brother, dad and a staff member from the lounge and they all made their way to David. As Ty worked on the man’s hair, his dad helped with the flashlight, Kash took the camera to film and the barber, a guide throughout.
As he was getting his hair cut, a crowd began to gather around him — a crowd that would have “otherwise not even glanced.” Inspired by Ty’s act for David, others, too, began making generous offerings, including a beer, a sweater and a pair of old sneakers. The mom highlighted how that moment became all about David — not his past, his identity or his background. “No one noticed his dirty clothes, the smell that came from the surrounding area, or his belongings packed tightly in a small suitcase. It was just a bunch of fellow humans, showing compassion,” she said.
When Ty finished the haircut, David was stoked. “Wow, that’s me, that’s really me!” he exclaimed. He was immediately met with a response from an onlooker, “Yeah man, that’s really you. Looking sharp.” An 11-year-old seeing a man "in need of a haircut" and a homeless man “seeing only a friend who didn’t judge him,” resulted in a fresh cut after seven years and a newfound dignity and hope. Ty’s small effort became a life-changing experience and it left a mark on the mom. To her, it was a “gentle reminder of who we are and who we can be when we move with love.” “It whispers to our hearts that despite our differences, if we pay attention, if we look for opportunities, we will often find commonality in kindness,” she remarked.
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