Minkah Fitzpatrick may be playing football in Alabama these days, but the St. Peter's Prep alumnus is a Jersey boy at heart. In recent months, a big part of retaining those Garden State roots has b...
Minkah Fitzpatrick may be playing football in Alabama these days, but the St. Peter's Prep alumnus is a Jersey boy at heart.
In recent months, a big part of retaining those Garden State roots has been his friendship with a 10-year-old from Parlin.
According to AL.com, Fitzpatrick first learned of Nico Oneto – who is battling acute myeloid leukemia – when Fitzpatrick's mother attended her younger son's youth football game. They were collecting money to help Oneto's fight at the game.
Fitzpatrick's mom, Melissa, sought updates on the boy after that game and eventually struck up a friendship between the two families. Now, Minkah Fitzpatrick finds himself sending along inspirational messages, writing "Nico" on his elbow sleeve and even paying a visit when he was home earlier this month.
For Fitzpatrick – who is gearing up to play in the College Football Playoff semifinals against Washington on Dec. 31 – the message has been simple: "Keep fighting."
So far, Oneto's been doing just that. After falling ill in late 2014, Oneto received his first bone marrow transplant in May of 2015. After a recurrence this past August, he returned to the hospital in September and underwent a second transplant last month.
Since returning home on Dec. 5, Oneto has spent the holiday season in giving mode. While most elementary school students were lodging requests with Santa, he was telling his parents he wanted nothing – and that gifts should be sent to other children in the hospital instead.
That said, the boy did get one gift that he's guarding dearly: a pair of gloves from Fitzpatrick.
"He says that no one can go near them," his mom told AL.com.
Matt Stypulkoski may be reached at mstypulkoski@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @M_Stypulkoski. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.