Local 22-month-old boy battling leukemia

PITTSBURGH — It’s a battle that has tested a local family, but one that they say they have no intention of losing.

Garrett Little is just 22 months old, and until only a few months ago, he was living like any other child his age.

After a routine doctor’s visit for his 18-month shots this past March, everything changed for the playful, rambunctious and energetic boy.

“(It was) just the regular checkup at the doctor’s office and during that, after we got home, he had a fever and wasn't acting himself,” Garrett’s mother, Kairy Little, said.

Kairy called the doctor and was told that Garrett’s fever would go away and that his reaction to the shots was normal, but after a few days, she noticed bruises appearing on Garrett’s back and took him to the emergency room at Children’s Hospital.

“The doctor came (into) the emergency room and told us that he had leukemia and we just fell to pieces,” Kairy Little said.

Garrett was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

Doctors told the family that it would be three years of intense chemotherapy, but other complications have arisen during treatment, involving an implant used to distribute medication to Garrett.

“They called to say that they had complications, and he had stopped, breathing and so they had to do chest compression(s),” Kairy Little said.

Kairy Little said her son is still the boy she knew before the diagnoses and enjoys wagon rides around the hospital hallways.

“Lots of wagon rides. He usually falls asleep when you do laps around the hallway,” she said.

Kairy told Channel 11 a car accident has left the family with only one car, with a lease on it that is now over the mileage, so now they are paying per mile.

The family is holding a “Team Garrett” barbecue Sunday, July 10, at 885 Andrew Reilly Memorial Park, 356 Wray Drive in Jefferson Hills, Pa. 15025. from noon to 7 p.m. The admission fee will be a $15 for adults and $7.50 for children. There will be ribs, hamburgers and barbecue chicken, along with a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle.

There's also a GoFundMe page. To donate, CLICK HERE.

Cox Media Group