It was in early September that the story of 10-year-old Thomas Moore touched the thousands of people's lives. After growing his hair for two years, he decided to cut it off, in order to donate it to a cancer patient he didn't even know. Now more than two months later, Moore was honored at a luncheon in Bethesda.
Moore's actions first gained recognition after it was reported in various news outlets, including WUSA9. Soon his story went viral.
"I just want Kyssi to be happy," he said.
Moore was talking about Kyssi Andrews, a young girl from Houston, Texas who was battling cancer. Moore first saw a Facebook post about Andrews in 2014, and so he decided to save his hair for her. Tragically, Andrews passed away before the hair ever arrived.
"I think we would have been best friends," said Moore.
Moore said he spoke with Kyssi's mother on the phone, shortly after the hair was cut.
"She said if I could see you right now, I'd give you a big hug," said Moore.
In a big surprise for Moore, Kyssi's mother, Marla Jones, showed up at the luncheon on Saturday. Jones said that it was emotional seeing Moore, after so much build up over the last couple months.
"Just to be able to meet him," she said. "To touch his little face. To touch his hair. To know exactly what it feels like was one of the greatest joys. Like Kyssi was for me. He was like the son I've never had."
Moore's hair hasn't found a permanent home just yet, although a possible patient is visiting in just two weeks.
Reniece Goodwine, who cut the hair, and made the wigs, said that she was hopeful. Part of Moore's hair was also turned into a doll's hair, which was given to Kyssi's family.
"The story is just so much deeper than hair," said Goodwine. "But also what Thomas did is going to help people. It's going to spread."
As for Thomas, he said he didn't do it for the attention.
"I did it," he said. "Because I think every girl deserves to have long and beautiful hair."