Wilkinson County Family Hosting Bone Marrow Drive, Hoping to Find a Match for Son

GORDON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Antwon Coverson could grow up to be a track star, with a little practice he might master the breast stroke, or maybe there’s stand-up comedy in his future.

Even though he looks like you’re average, rambunctious 5-year-old, Antwon’s parents know that every experience, could be his last.

“I have to swallow those parent instincts and just say yes, ‘Dad, I want a tatoo’, I have to get him one, because I might lose him tomorrow and then I fussed at him for a tattoo,” said Roderick Coverson, Antwon’s father.

Antwon was born with an aggressive form of sickle cell disease. He’s on several medications and common infections can send him to the hospital for weeks.

The Centers for Disease Control describes it as a red blood cell disorder in which cells are abnormally shaped and often clog up blood vessels causing what’s known as a ‘pain crisis’.”

He’s went through seizures where i’ve seen him just go lump in my arms,” said Nicole Coverson, Antwon’s mother.

That’s not the only affect. It causes difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, and at age two, Antwon had a stroke. As a result he gets a blood transfusion every month.

“If he has a crisis in that month then he has to have another one, and that deposits more iron in your body so he could have kidney failure, your heart could go bad,” said Nicole.

A bone marrow transplant could cure Antwon’s disease. A disease that affects one in every 500 African Americans.

“More black people have to get out there and do it. Because our children and other people that have blood disorders and need a bone marrow transplant, they’re going to end up dying,” said Nicole.

The Coverson’s are making it easy for you. They’re hosting a drive in Wilkinson County. All it takes to find out if you’re a match is a sample of saliva.”

If we can save any child, any child, it would be a blessing to me and Nicole,” said Roderick.

The drive is this Saturday, July 27th from 11 to 4pm. It’s at the Wilkinson County Community Center. The building is located behind the East Wilkinson County Library in Irwinton.