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Young boy with weeks to live needs bone marrow match

Posted at 12:03 AM, Nov 30, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-30 14:50:52-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - A Maryland family spent Thursday night in Richmond, hoping doctors can save their 5-year old son’s life. Adam Lumpkins’ cancer has come back, but this time, it spread, and now he may only have weeks to live.

That’s why a Henrico woman, his former neighbor, is desperately searching for Adam’s match.

“As of right now, they have not found a match,” says Amber Dougher. She tells CBS 6 that finding the match is one challenge, the other is time. Doctors say if a matching donor isn’t found soon, Adam may not live past Christmas day. 

“It’s sad, honestly.  You feel helpless. There's not much you can do except go to some of these bone marrow drives at this point to try and find a match for him,” says Dougher.

There have been a number of bone marrow drives specifically for Adam, but Dougher has her fingers crossed that his match will walk through the doors of the Patrick Henry building in downtown Richmond on Friday.

“During this holiday season when we're all looking to help out the community, this is one way to do it,” says Christy Morton with Governor Bob McDonnell’s office.

She says they're holding a bone marrow drive on Friday to try and expand the registry, since people in need like Adam, have to rely on total strangers for help. "Many cannot get a transplant from family members,” says Morton. 

Adam's parents say he's spent more than half of his life in the hospital, smiling through it all. Dougher told CBS 6, the search is definitely exhausting, but, she’s going to see to it that Adam gets his once Christmas wish, which is to be healthy again.

“I don’t think Adam is going to give up,” says Dougher.

Click here to learn how to be a donor.