Allums hold special bone marrow drive for mother’s day

A bone marrow drive for James Christopher Allums, 18, and his 1-year-old sister, Elizabeth, will be held Tuesday to locate potential donors for them and others with similar life-threatening diseases.

Ellen Allums said the bone marrow drive is for Elizabeth, James Christopher and anyone waiting on a bone marrow transplant. During the past 10 years the Allums’ bone marrow drives have put 15,000 people on the worldwide donor registry. Those drives have found donors for 30 people.

Once a potential donor is listed on the national registry of more than 6 million possible donors, a 1-in-12 chance exists that the person will be selected as a bone-marrow donor.

A decade ago, James Christopher was diagnosed with Fanconi anemia, a rare genetic illness that leads to bone marrow failure — a condition when blood cells and platelets are no longer produced.

Now his 1-year-old sister, Elizabeth, has been diagnosed with the same illness.

“When we first began this journey, our son’s picture was on promotional fliers with others who were awaiting bone marrow transplants. Recently, we were looking back over these fliers and realized he was the only one living on many of these signs … most died without a bone marrow match. After seeing God work in our lives … He has such a beautiful way of giving you strength you never knew you could have and peace that only He can give. I wouldn’t trade our lives for anything in the world,” Ellen Allums said.

One donor could provide the needed bone marrow transplant for both James Christopher and Elizabeth, since they have the same tissue type.

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue inside bones containing stem cells that produce the body’s blood cells.

Stem cells in bone marrow do not function properly in patients with immune-deficiency diseases, aplastic anemia and leukemia.

In a bone-marrow transplant, the patient’s diseased bone marrow is destroyed and healthy bone marrow is deposited into the blood stream.

A bone marrow drive involves a swab test of the participant’s cheeks and takes approximately 10 minutes.

Bone marrow donors must be 18 to 55 years old and in good health. There’s no cost to the donor.

Chris Allums said a bone marrow transplant doesn’t involve any surgery.

“Some think they’ll drill in your bone, but it’s just a needle stick and a Band-aid — just like giving blood,” he said. “We find a lot of people are challenged with overcoming their fear, especially with the unknown of becoming a bone marrow donor.”

Doctors have told the Allums that James Christopher needs a bone marrow transplant immediately.

He originally was given two years to live upon his diagnosis.

“He’s fighting for his life every day,” Ellen Allums said.

The disease affects one in 600,000 people.

Follow Scott Rogers on Twitter @lscottrogers.

To participate

What: Bone marrow drive and ladies luncheon

When: Noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: First Baptist Church of West Monroe.

Cost: $7, pay at the door.

Ellen Allums will speak on the power of prayer, faith and determination.

Reserve to rmoody@firstwest.cc by noon Monday to eat lunch.

You do not have to test to attend the luncheon or to hear Ellen speak.