Story Created:
Feb 3, 2010
Story Updated:
Feb 4, 2010
WEST BEND - "Do it for Pruett." That is the rallying cry of parishioners at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. They are holding a bone marrow drive this weekend to help their friend, Todd Pruett.
"When you walk around, you have so many people supporting you and so many people doing everything they can for you," Todd said as he took a break from signing "Do it for Pruett" t-shirt. "How can anybody be down about that?"
Todd found out he needed a bone marrow transplant last year to stave off acute Leukemia. Doctors hoped a family member might be able to donate, but none of them is a match. So, this weekend parishioners hope to add dozens, if not hundreds, of people to the national bone marrow registry.
Todd, a 49-year-old father of three sons, would like to stick around awhile.
"Like any father, I look forward to seeing them graduate high school, get through college, get married and have kids," Todd said while standing next to his 13-year-old son, Turner.
The chance of finding a match in West Bend this weekend is infinitesimally small. Still Todd's friends and family want to do something. They hope their drive can become part of a larger movement that will see a lot of people register and a lot of lives saved.
"It's not just about him," said Patrice Pruett of her childhood sweetheart. "There are a lot of people out there who need this."
The bone marrow drive runs Friday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. The drive resumes the next morning at 11 and runs until 3 p.m. The Church is located at 1044 S. Silverbrook Drive in West Bend. For more information, visit the Web site: Doit4pruett.com
