Bone marrow drive supports local mother

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Sunday, two women in North Little Rock organized a bone marrow donor drive for a young Maumelle mother named Leslie Harris. Doctors diagnosed Harris with leukemia when she was nine months pregnant, and they told her the odds of finding a donor are one in 21,000. That didn't stop complete strangers from looking for a match to save her life.

"It's just 30 seconds, you get a swab, and you're out the door," says drive organizer Lydia Dreher.

Touched by Harris' story and her desperate need for a bone marrow transplant, Dreher leapt into action planning Sunday's bone marrow donor drive for a woman she's never met.

"She's a new parent, so it's just very saddening," says Dreher.

Many answered Derher's call for help. Jaqualyn Miller signed up at a donor drive years ago and this fall helped save the life of an 18-year-old.

"It wasn't like totally easy as giving your swab today is, but it's not too difficult. You're gonna be sick for a couple of days," says Miller.

Miller won't get to meet the man until September, but this weekend, she and Dreher got a surprise. Harris felt well enough to thank her supporters in person.

"I am stoked. I am so thankful for everyone that came out and for all of the hard work they put into it," said Harris.

Right now, Harris is taking a two month break from her grueling chemo treatments.

"They said my odds were one in 21,000. But, my mom got a little worried, but I told her we only needed one," she said.

"I just want to be strong for Ayden and the rest of my family. They gave me 24 hours, and I beat that, so, I guess we'll just keep on moving forward," she added.

Miller says the transplant was like giving blood and took four hours. She says she felt well enough to go shopping later that day.