St. Margaret Mary working to find bone marrow donor for 3rd grader
Donors can be hard to find when it comes to bone marrow.
That is especially true for 9-year-old Cruz Colvin of Louisville, who is battling a rare disease.
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Michelle Stull's third-grade students at St. Margaret Mary consider each other family. When one member is missing, things just aren't the same.
The missing family member is 10-year-old Cruz Colvin. He's not in school because he's quarantined and fully-dependent on donor blood.
"When one person is hurt or sad or sick then we all feel it. It's been really hard," said Stull.
Cruz's young life was turned upside down just a week before Christmas.
A relentless nosebleed was just the start.
"He continued to bleed for over 30 minutes, soaking through two bath towels," said his dad, John Colvin.
Cruz was rushed to Kosair Children's Hospital where he was later diagnosed with aplastic anemia -- a rare blood disease.
He's now in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant, but finding a match within the Hispanic community could be difficult.
"For your 9-year-old to have to ask the question, and know he knows the possible answer, 'Am I going to die?' No kid should have to think like that," John Colvin said.
Cruz certainly isn't fighting alone.
Teachers, students, parents and administrators at St. Margaret Mary are rallying around the Colvin family.
From bake sales and cards to organized donor drives, they are all working to find a match for Cruz and provide love and support along the way.
"The faith and love of a child is the greatest thing you can experience," said Stull.
A simple cheek swab is all that's needed to find out if you are a match for Cruz or anyone else in need of bone marrow.
Three drives are set up -- the first is later this month at St. Margaret Mary on Shelbyville Road.
The other two are next month.
To learn more about Cruz's fight: Click here
To find out about becoming a bone marrow donor: Click here