Officer With Sick Child Finds Support From His Comrades

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FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Franklin police officer Chadd McCulley's oldest daughter, Alexa, came down with a life threatening illness just a month ago and the officer has found support from his fellow officers.

McCulley's daily duty is assisting others, but these days, the Franklin patrolman finds himself in need of help for his 3-year-old daughter who's captured his heart.

"It's just reassuring to know that there's somebody else out there that's got my back," said Chadd McCulley.

Vanderbilt Children's Hospital diagnosed Alexa with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

"It's the most common form of childhood leukemia and it's one of the most treatable," said Shauna McCulley, Chadd's wife and Alexa's mother.

Alexa's mother said her prognosis looks pretty good. She has family support and Officer McCulley is finding comfort from his fellow men and women in uniform - lodge #41 of the FOP.

"They just heard that Alexa had leukemia, and they wanted to do something to help as much as they possibly could. The first thing that they thought of was a bone marrow donation type situation," said Chadd McCulley.

In a best case scenario, Alexa's looking at 2-years of treatment and no bone marrow transplant.

Still, the FOP is putting-on a bone marrow and blood drive next Tuesday at St. Philip's Catholic Church on Main Street in Franklin.

Finding out whether you are a bone marrow match is as simple as a mouth swab.

American Red Cross and Bone Marrow drive benefiting 3-year-old Alexa McCulley.
Where: St. Philip's Catholic Church on Main Street in Downtown Franklin
When: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 12 p.m. until 6 p.m.
Questions about blood drive: 1-866-236-3276
Questions about bone marrow registry: www.marrow.org
For more information contact: Joe Burns (615) 478-8271
To schedule appt: www.givelife.org and use the code: FOP41