Charity softball game to benefit 3-year-old battling leukemia
South Strabane Township police officers and firefighters are taking to the diamond for a friendly game of softball for a special cause on Aug. 25.
Proceeds from the fourth annual South Strabane Township Charity Softball Game will be donated to the family of Jett Fuller, a 3-year-old boy who is battling AMKL (acute megakaryoblastic) leukemia, to offset medical and hospital expenses.
The game will be played at South Strabane Township Community Park, 750 Floral Hill Drive, Washington.
Jett is the son of Travis and Lexie Fuller of South Strabane Township, and his parents are grateful for the support the first responders and the community have provided to the family since Jett was diagnosed with leukemia on April 15.
“It means a lot and shows how much the community cares about each other. Having it for Jett means a lot for Lexie and me,” said Travis.
Lexie echoed her husband’s comments.
“We’re so excited. It’s really awesome, and we’re very thankful for everyone who comes together and does these things for kiddos who are really going through it,” said Lexie Fuller. “We’re hoping that Jett’s out (of the hospital) during that time and can watch the game. He’s been through a lot.”
Jett’s health challenges began the day he was born, on May 25, 2021.
Travis and Lexie had traveled to Miami, Fla., for a quick getaway to grieve the loss of Lexie’s brother, Caleb Lee Jackson, who had died in an accident at the age of 19 less than two weeks earlier.
But she went into labor six weeks early, and Jett was delivered at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
“His white blood cell count was too high, so when he was born, he had to undergo chemotherapy, which got the blood cell count to go down” said Lexie. “But we ended up being stuck down there in the hospital for 20 days.”
The family was flown from Miami to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in a medical airplane, where Jett, who has Down syndrome and hyperthyroidism, underwent surgery at 1 month old to have a feeding tube inserted for supplemental feeding after he was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease, a digestive disorder.
AMKL is a rare type of leukemia that most often affects children with Down syndrome, and since his birth, doctors routinely checked his bloodwork.
Jett’s parents noticed the week before he was diagnosed with AMKL on April 15 that he was bruising easily and had a nosebleed. He was admitted to Children’s Hospital the day he received the diagnosis and has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy since then. He’s scheduled to receive eight rounds.
Lexie said Jett has only been able to return home twice (he misses his big sister, Peyton, 5) and she has been spending most of her time at the hospital to be with him.
“He was home 14 days the first time and eight days the second time,” said Lexie.
Jett’s parents say he’s always smiling, despite his health challenges.
“He is honestly the happiest boy ever. He’s always making everyone smile. He’s always happy regardless of what’s happening,” said Lexie. “He loves his action figures, he loves roaring at everyone. And he loves his sister. He watches everything she does, and follows right in her footsteps.”
In addition to their appreciation to the South Strabane first responders playing the charity game for Jett, the Fullers are thankful to family and friends who have rallied around them and organized fundraisers, including a recent spaghetti dinner and a T-shirt sale that featured a photo of Jett and the slogan, JettStrong.
For South Strabane Township police Officer John Beckus – who noted the police department is 3-0 in the softball games versus the fire department – the charity game provides an opportunity for the first responders to continue to build relationships with the community.
And, it gives them a chance to help out youngsters in need.
“The Battle of the Badges is truly an honor to host,” said Beckus. “This will be our fourth opportunity to impact our greatest inspirations – warriors like Jett, who is courageously battling leukemia.”
The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. A kids’ tug of war will be held between the fourth and fifth innings. All American Grill food truck will be on site. Sponsorships are available. Contact South Strabane police Officer John Beckus at jbeckus@southstrabane.com for additional information.