He loves dining at Boston Market, watching football and is a studious learner in the classroom. Brian Murphy, 10, was diagnosed with leukemia last May and since then, the Broadneck Elementary School community has rallied around him and his family by sending letters and gift cards to his favorite restaurant when he can?t attend classes.
“He?s a very active fifth-grader,” said school counselor Kim Baicar. “He?s a good student and just a positive, upbeat kid.”
For the second time, the Red Crosswill hold a blood drive at the Anne Arundel school in his honor.
“We?re just supporting him in any way we can to make this rough journey smoother,” Baicar said.
During the October blood drive, 66 units of blood, usually around a pint, were collected, said Baicar. The interest from the community was so great the school decided to host another drive.
“I just called up the Red Cross to ask if we could hold a blood drive, and they jumped on it,” said Brian?s mother, Judy Murphy, of Arnold.
The goal this time is 100 units.
“It?s our way of replenishing the blood supply Brian?s so generously been given,” she said.
When Brian can?t go to school, his homeroom and fifth-grade teachers visit his house a couple of days a week to get him caught up with what he missed in class.
Brian has acute lymphocytic leukemia, a common type of blood cancer in children, his mother said.
Brian is expected to receive chemotherapy until he?s 13 or 14, at which point he might be ready to play football again, one of his old favorite activities.
Until then, Brian will be looking forward to starting sixth-grade at Magothy River Middle School.
In the fall, the Make-A-Wish Foundation will fly the family to Indianapolis to meet Brian?s hero, Indianapolis Colts? quarterback Peyton Manning.
“It?ll happen sometime when he?s able to go,” said Murphy. “Maybe they can throw around a Nerf ball for a while ? that would be nice.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Red Cross blood drive in honor of Brian Murphy
WHEN: 2 to 7 p.m. Tuesday
WHERE: Broadneck Elementary School, 470 Shore Acres Road, Arnold
To make an appointment, call 410-353-0750.
