Justin Purviance desperately needs a few minutes of your time on Wednesday. It could save his life.
The 6-year-old first-grader from Milford was diagnosed with leukemia in March 2009, the New Haven Register reports. He went through eight months of chemotherapy and returned to school in November, but in February, the disease returned, Now he is undergoing chemotherapy again and needs a blood donor.
Justin's best chance for long-term survival is high-dose chemotherapy, followed by a bone marrow transplant, the Connecticut Post reports.
A search for a donor is happening through a National Bone Marrow Donor program and the Live Oaks Elementary School community is hosting a drive, hoping to find a match.
A cheek swab test is all it takes to tell if a potential bone marrow donor is a match, Live Oaks Principal Rose Lacobelle said.
Purviance is one of three students in the district who are also seeking bone marrow donors, she said.
“We’re trying to get as many people out as possible,” Lacobelle told the newspaper. “If we can find a match for anybody we’d be so happy.”
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Along with the marrow drive, there will be a fundraiser. Buy an orange bracelet with an inscription of “The Force Be With You,” in honor of the “Star Wars” trilogy, which Purviance loves.
Donations can be sent to Milford Preschool LLC, 35 Mathew St., Milford 06460.
You can see if you are a match by going on Wednesday to the multipurpose room at Live Oaks School at 571 Merwin Ave., from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information or to donate, go to www.milford4justin.com.
