A Poker Run was held Saturday at the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club to raise funds for a Mahoning Township woman who was recently diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

Kayla Heckman, 20, daughter of Ryan Heckman and stepdaughter of Stacey Heckman, was diagnosed with AML on June 3. Since then her life has become a constant cycle of doctors and hospitals.To help Kayla Heckman combat the high medical bills, friends and family planned the Poker Run, for cars and motorcycles, at Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club.There were five stops along the route: Wild Creek Inn, Pocono Tap House, Boatyard Saloon and the Oriels, with the last stop back at the Beaver Run Rod and Gun Club. There was also a Chinese auction with 250 prizes, bake sale, raffle and refreshments.Approximately 400 people took part in the ride. There were 250 motorcycles and seven cars in the run."She has a good attitude," said her dad. "When someone is diagnosed with cancer, you need three things, family support, a good attitude and a good doctor. Kayla has all three, but she has the support of all the people who participated in this event behind her."The winners of the Poker Run were Mark A. Michalik, first place with a full house; Steve Kunkle, second place with a flush; and Stephanie Jandris, third place with a straight.For the past several months, Kayla has had nearly daily appointments for transfusions, blood draws or platelets.Kayla was tested for cancer because her skin bruised easily, plus the skin around her eyes had a yellow tint and the whites of her eyes had broken blood vessels. Those symptoms were enough to encourage her to see Dr. Ken Sharp, who diagnosed her illness after reviewing the results of her tests.She spent the first seven days of the 32 day stay in Lehigh Valley Hospital in the critical care unit.She had a hard time handling the chemotherapy. Her skin actually had a green tinge. That first treatment had caused her liver to shut down and Kayla's lower extremities filled with fluid. In all she had gained 65 pounds.The type of AML Kayla has means that her treatment isn't as severe as what it could have been.She has subtype emersion 16, which means she will not require a bone-marrow transplant.So far Kayla has had two treatments. She has another one scheduled next week and there is one more after that. Each takes about five days of hospitalization. The treatment requires seven days of cytarabine and three days of ldarubicin injections."If she has no sign of cancer after the fourth treatment, she will be in full remission," said her dad. "Then it will be only periodic blood tests."Kayla has put her life and her job at Mack Trucks on hold and her father is taking time off from Livengood Excavating until Kayla is cured.Kayla plans to use funds raised for her medical bills, but any funds remaining after her bills are paid will be donated to the Leukemia Foundation.Anyone who would like to send a donation to help Kayla with her medical bills should send donations to: Kayla Heckman, 92 Highland Hills Road, Lehighton, Pa. 18235.