Local boy searches for bone marrow match

Thousands of people need bone-marrow transplants, but the pool of donors just isn't big enough to meet that kind of a demand.

Now, one Marion boy is asking for you to step up, sign up and possibly change his life.

Reid Shadle has aplastic anemia which essentially means his bone marrow doesn't produce blood cells properly. A bone marrow transplant could cure him.

“I hope there is someone out there,” Reid's mother Vicki Shadle said.

Reid's mom is working the University of Iowa Marrow Donor Program to encourage people to sign up as a bone marrow donor.

Someone out there could be a perfect match for her son, or another person who needs help.

“It's just one of those things you can do for someone else in your life,” Vicki Shadle said.

Signing up involves a little paperwork and a simple cotton swab. If you're a match, a relatively painless procedure will allow you to donate typically at no cost.

“Most people say they feel like they've fallen on the ice and bruised their lower back afterwards. It's not anything that's too painful,” University of Iowa Marrow Donor Program Donor Services Coordinator Julee Darner said.

Reid struggles to talk about his situation, but smiles when he sees a football donated by Kirk Ferentz.

The highest bidder will get to take the football home complete with a personalized autograph from the coach.

“It's pretty sweet,” Reid Shadle said.

There are two chances for you to sign up to donate:

“Absolutely Clean” located at 620 7th Avenue in Marion on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Bowman Woods Elementary School located at 151 Boyson Road NE on Monday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

-Mark Geary, KCRG-TV9 News