Special fundraiser in Fort Myers helps 7-year-old leukemia patient

Adyn Pickett is fighting for his life tonight. The 7-year-old boy has leukemia and this is the third time he has had it. Right now, an event is raising money to help Adyn’s family pay the outrageous costs of his treatment.

The thought of having a child with cancer is gut-wrenching for James Pickett. But, having a child in his third battle with cancer is unimaginable.

“It’s hard,” James said. “We’ve been conditioned almost now. I mean, Adyn’s been fighting for a little over two-and-a-half years.”

But, you would not know James’ son has been overcoming intensive treatment by his hobbies.

“I like Legos and soccer,” Adyn said.

Adyn is fighting B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients with the cancer have too many immature white blood cells in the bone marrow, according to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Without enough healthy white blood cells, Adyn’s body has a difficulty fighting infections.

James said his son is considered high risk. Despite the diagnosis, the Pickett family continues fighting.

Adyn’s sister, Abby, said she is proud of how brave her brother is as he goes through such a challenging ordeal.

When it came time for a bone marrow transplant, Abby, 6 years old, did something that made her father so proud.

“It turned out that our daughter was almost a perfect match,” James said. “She ended up being his donor.”

Although unsuccessful, the transplant was one among the several procedures adding to their increasing medical bill. James said the medical treatment has cost the family around $20,000 a year in out-of-pocket expenses.

That is where the community steps in. A fundraiser on Saturday by the Fort Myers Brewing Company will go on until 11 p.m.

“Kids should not have to fight cancer,” said Jen Whyte, co-owner and co-founder of the Fort Myers Brewing Company. “Families that are dealing with things like this should not have to think about their finances.”

But in the face of the unthinkable, Adyn is not alone.

“We fight cancer,” Abby said.

“We fight together,” Adyn said.