TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

After surviving a deadly blood disease for five years, a 13-year-old Bakersfield boy is headed to Wisconsin where doctors have located a rare donor match for a bone marrow transplant.

Walker Franks, a seventh-grader at Stockdale Christian School, was diagnosed in May 2005 with severe aplastic anemia, a condition marked by bone marrow failure, resulting in low blood cell counts and an increased risk of bleeding, bruising and serious infection.

As he and his dad, Daryl Franks, prepare to leave on their trip, Walker has been wondering who this person might be who is coming to his aid.

"I don't know it it's a boy or a girl, but I think it's a boy," Walker said Friday. "It's pretty cool that it's a perfect match."

Over the past five years, Walker has had no choice but to undergo countless blood transfusions and difficult treatments, including his participation in two clinical drug trials.

In 2006, more than 1,400 people in Bakersfield were inspired enough by Walker's story to sign up with the National Bone Marrow Registry.

But there have been a lot of ups and downs since then. One of the downs came last fall when Walker contracted the H1N1 swine flu, an illness that could have killed him.

It was enough to place him yet again in serious danger.

Then a few days before Christmas, a phone call came to Walker's dad: An incredible match had been found. Not only did the potential donor match on 10 of 10 antigen markers, the anonymous person even has the same blood type.

"It was a good Christmas at our house," Daryl said. "We're very blessed to have found this match."

On Monday, Walker and his dad will climb into the family car and embark on an epic father-son road trip. They will blaze a path from Bakersfield to Milwaukee -- and maybe from sickness to glorious health for Walker.

"I say a little prayer to my unknown angel every day," Walker's mom, Julie Franks, said of the anonymous donor. "A bone marrow transplant is the only cure."

Walker and Daryl don't have to be at the hospital in Milwaukee until May 24, so the trip is going to include stops in Montana, at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and, according to dad, every historical marker and national monument along the way.

"We're taking along a couple of fishing poles," Daryl said. "It's going to be a seven-day history lesson. Walker's history teacher loves that."

Walker's 12-year-old sister, Audrey, who's just 15 months younger than her brother, said it's hard to describe life during the past five years.

"It's been sort of scary and happy and all mixed in between," she said. "I really thank God."

The marrow transplant process, from preparation to recovery, could easily last a year, though his family is hoping Walker will be back to normal within six to nine months. Before the transplant, Walker will receive a bone marrow biopsy, his heart and lungs will be checked and rechecked and a port will be placed in his chest area that will allow for safer introduction of medication and chemotherapy compounds.

Yes, Walker must undergo chemo in order to kill whatever bone marrow he has left. Then it is hoped the new marrow -- a gift unlike any he has ever received -- will begin to produce healthy red and white cells and blood platelets.

Sure he's a little scared. But mostly, Walker is excited by the prospect of regaining a level of robust health that will allow him to return to the baseball diamond, to let him run and leap and live like any other 13-year-old.

Julie will be able to join the pair next month in Milwaukee. Like the rest of the family, she's still letting the news sink in.

"It's really been overwhelming," she said. "We're just so blessed.

"We're very optimistic that this time next year we will be able to say, without reservation, that Walker is cured."