SMYRNA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — As Thanksgiving approaches, two teenagers have found their friendship deepened by a shared battle against cancer.

Camilo Henao and J.P. Thomas, classmates at Whitefield Academy, helped each other through separate cancer diagnoses this year, culminating in ringing the victory bell together at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on Friday, Nov. 21.

Thomas first noticed symptoms in May when his knee started hurting. What doctors initially thought might be a meniscus tear from playing tennis turned out to be something much worse.

“There were spots all over my body,” Thomas said. “I had them on my skull, shoulders, arms, hip and legs.”

Doctors diagnosed Thomas with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare type of pediatric cancer. Treatment began immediately at Children’s

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