Zach Richards could be discharged from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital today.

Richards, a 6-foot, 250-pound senior offensive lineman for the Carlisle High School football team, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in June. He received a bone marrow transplant Oct. 4 and missed the school’s homecoming ceremonies, where he had been named homecoming king.

His mother, Kelly Richards, said Friday that Zach is making progress.

Zach could be transferred today to the American Cancer Society’s Musekamp Family Hope Lodge, a cost-free, temporary home away from home for cancer patients and their caregivers, located in Cincinnati.

“When the hospital discharges him, they want him to be within 30 miles of the hospital. But because our home in Carlisle is 37 miles away, we have to find a closer place to stay,” Kelly Richards said.

She said Zach needs to continue building his blood cell counts. To her knowledge, the healthy cells Zach received from the bone marrow transplant are taking hold and building his immune system back once again. He still must eat intravenously, however.

“We were hoping that he could be discharged by Monday, but we’re still not sure. They took him off of his pain pump just today, so that’s a good sign,” she said.

The Middletown Journal reported last month about blood drives organized in and around the Carlisle community on Zach’s behalf.

“There’s probably more people praying in Carlisle than there has ever been before,” Carlisle football coach Bill Jewell said in October. “He’s brought this town together.”

“Zach misses his friends and his football team,” Kelly said. “We really appreciate the support the school and community has given us, it’s been amazing and we’ll always be grateful.”

There are no fundraising efforts currently under way for Zach, according to Debbie Sprinkle, a secretary at Carlisle High School.