INDIANAPOLIS -- After seven years of waiting, a Lawrence teen is preparing to receive a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
Darrell Collins has severe aplastic anemia. The rare disease affects his bone marrow and immune system.
"Some days I have a hard time getting out of bed. I would feel weak. A lof of things normal kids do, I don't feel up to," said Collins.
Two years ago, his mother made a plea for members of the community to become bone marrow donors.
People stepped up to organize their own marrow drives and fundraisers. Then, Collins got the call.
"I'm excited, I mean I'm overjoyed, I mean I can't really express it. This person is essentially saving my life," said Collins.
Now that there's a bone marrow donor, Chaklan Lacy says she's cautiously optimistic.
There's a chance her son's body will reject the transplant and he could spend up to a year in the hospital.
He'll travel to Cincinnati Children's Hospital on Sunday to receive the transplant.
And his mother has a message for the donor, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. And thank you again. For saving my son's life," said Lacy.
