A 10-year-old Ottawa boy was honoured today with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Tommy Glatzmayer was recognized for raising awareness about a rare syndrome afflicting his sister, and for teaching his peers about acceptance.
Like a lot of little brothers - Tommy Glatzmayer looks up to his big sister.
Melanie was born with a rare disease called Cornelia De Lang Syndrome.
When Tommy started Kindergarten - he noticed not everyone saw Melanie the way he did.
“At school everybody was making fun of Melanie's work in the hallway and I couldn't stand it anymore. “ Tommy says, “It was just too much.”
He decided, with his mother's help, to write a book. To help others understand his sister's condition and anyone else who is different.
The book "Melanie and Tommy - have two pet rats and one syndrome" sold 7-thousand copies in two years. And the siblings have been invited to speak across North America.
Now Tommy is one of the youngest Canadians to receive the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
"He loves her so much.” Says Nathalie Wendling, Tommy and Melanie’s mom. “He wants everyone to love her as much as he does.”
Their dad, John Glatzmeyer says, “It's not just about his sister anymore, but he is helping other people who have differences.”
Now as Tommy wears his medal of honour, it's obvious the big sister is pretty proud of her little brother.
