Family seeking marrow match

LeAnn Schmidt said since her 6-year-old son Kristopher was admitted to the hospital last October, his spirits have gone up and down.

He has asked if it will hurt if he dies.

"I told him you are not going to die. That's the rule. That's how it will work," she said.

As the Lake Villa boy fights leukemia in a Milwaukee hospital, members of his school family back home hope to find someone that may help save his life.

Prince of Peace Elementary School will hold a marrow drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the school's parish hall, 135 S. Milwaukee Ave., Lake Villa.

Kristopher first showed health problems at five months old when doctors first discovered his bone marrow was not producing platelets or the body was destroying them faster than they reproduced.

Because he appeared overall to be developing well, was growing and active, doctors chose not to pursue a bone marrow biopsy, Schmidt said.

Six months ago, his platelets reached its lowest level, and he developed pinpoint bruises head to toe and spontaneous bleeding.

"If I held his hand too hard or picked him out of the bathtub, he had bruises," she said. "It was scary."

The first week of September, Kristopher was admitted to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. A bone marrow biopsy revealed leukemia. He later moved to Children's Memorial Hospital in Milwaukee for treatment.

Doctors are pursuing aggressive chemotherapy, but his bone marrow is not showing any recovery.

"The big question now is the leukemia taking over and is bone marrow full of leukemia cells and can't produce normal cells," she said.

In the hospital now for six weeks, Kristopher misses his 15-year-old brother Nicholas, 7-year-old sister Maggie and school. But he gets up every day to play computer games, watch movies and meet his tutor to study. He has a Web cam to keep in contact with family.

"He's stronger than I would be," Schmidt said.

As doctors consider a bone marrow transplant as further treatment, Prince of Peace -- where Kristopher attended first grade -- chose to help the family find a matching donor.

LifeSource will be on hand to conduct the cheek swab test for anyone in good health between the ages 18 and 60. The test costs $55 and is tax deductible.

Schmidt said they also have received monetary donations from the school, family and strangers to help offset the test's cost.

She said it is overwhelming to stand on the other side of charity and receive help from people she knows from church, her child's classroom and strangers.

"To have strangers put all this effort and time to make my son better is pretty overwhelming," she said. "Thank you seems pretty lame."