Prisoner may be allowed to be marrow donor

LATTA, Okla., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A Virginia man with leukemia said he may be able to arrange to have his jailed brother transferred to Maryland for a bone-marrow transplant.

Robert Henley, 48, has tried two ways to effectuate the transfer of Allen Henley, 46, who is incarcerated in the Oklahoma Corrections Department on methamphetamine- and marijuana-related convictions, the Oklahoman reported Tuesday.

One way to get the transfer accomplished is to apply to the governor's office to grant a 60-day leave for the prisoner without the Pardon and Parole Board taking action, Jerry Massey, a spokesman for the state's correction department said.

The men's mother, Frances Henley of Latta, Okla., has applied for the leave; however, she said she is worried about Allen being on the loose for the 60 days needed for the procedure because of his addiction.

"I love my son and I don't want to put him in more jeopardy than he has already put himself in," she said.

The other way to deal with a transfer would be to transfer Allen temporarily to a Maryland prison, but Oklahoma does not have an agreement for this purpose with Maryland, and Maryland officials refuse to take him, the Oklahoman reported.

Mark Vernarelli, a spokesman for the Maryland Corrections Department, said he was unfamiliar with the matter and would look into it.

A quick decision is needed because doctors would like to perform the transplant during the first week in January while Robert is in remission from the cancer, and want to have Allen in Maryland a month before the operation for additional tests, Robert said.