Darby Veeck: Sharing Life, Giving Hope

The big push last year to enlist more state workers as blood and bone marrow donors is continuing to produce fruit! This effort proved to be the catalyst for Darby Veeck. "I always wanted to do something in this arena; Jonathan Barbee's situation brought it to the forefront of my mind and the state promotion provided the perfect opportunity for me."

Darby, who feels awkward receiving recognition for this, was honored by Governor Locke for his unselfish act. The Governor told him and other honorees that "the recipients of these gifts-and their families-are very, very grateful and many of these grateful people pass it on. They make the decision to help others because they've experienced the difference it can make. In such decisions, your gift gives again .... A single act of selflessness can go on forever."

Darby has been working as a Geographic Information Systems Analyst in the Department of Ecology for almost 4 years. This 32-year-old scientist with Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and in Environmental Engineering is a transplant from the Eastern United States where he worked for National Public Radio in Boston. Like many of his coworkers, the plight of co-worker Kevin Barbee's son left him with the strong desire to "do something." The state program kicked off by Governor Locke last April provided the impetus and Darby has been in the fast lane ever since.

Darby entered the bone marrow registry October 2002 and was told that he "most likely won't be called for 10 years." About 3 months later, Darby was contacted regarding the possibility of a match and was asked to give blood samples. He spent about two weeks in February undergoing tests; had a complete medical examination at Fred Hutchinson in Seattle and emerged as the best match for a leukemia patient who was in dire need of a donor.

Once his willingness was confirmed, Darby was given the option of either donating stem cells or undergoing the more surgical, bone marrow procedure. He opt'd for the former and made his donation at the Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle.

The procedure Darby chose entails administration of medication that increases the body's production of white blood cells about tenfold! The medication was administered over a period of 6 days and Darby was very impressed by the accommodation, warmth, and professionalism of the attending medical personnel. "They accommodated my every need, allowing me to receive the required medication in Tacoma, where I live, on weekends and in Olympia, where I work, doing the week. The people at the blood center were wonderful; I got to know them quite well!"
How did the procedure go? Darby says it went very well for him. "I seem to have lucked out on the physical side effects; experiencing only a couple afternoons of mild discomfort, feeling `worn out' for a brief period."

Have you met the recipient? "No, they have a policy that we can't meet until one year after the donation. I recently received a note of gratitude from him. He is 42 years old and is doing as well as can be expected. He's at home now, recuperating. His note was very touching:"

"....What a blessing to my family you have been! Our family and Church family have been praying for this and you were the answer to those prayers. What normally takes 6 to 8 weeks and multiple donors, took only 3 weeks. It was so great for me that you were willing to do this for a perfect stranger."

Would you do it again? Darby replied "it falls so far within my personal sense of community responsibility. I would like to encourage everyone to join the marrow list and let them know how relatively easy it is to give another human being perhaps their last, best chance at life."