The campus at Boston College was extremely busy on October 25 and 26 as Project Life Movement (PLM), a recruitment partner of Gift of Life Marrow Registry, ran a two-day mega-drive to add new donors to the registry. Almost 700 students swabbed their cheeks and joined the registry for their chance to help someone battling leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell, or more than 70 other disorders.
The highlight of the event was on October 25 at the Yawkey Athletic Center, when PLM spokesperson and former Boston College and Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly introduced transplant recipient and leukemia survivor Charles Vickery to the Gift of Life stem cell donor who saved his life, Timothy Smyth. Under federal regulations, transplant donors and recipients may not meet for the first year after the transplant, so when these meetings take place, they are a much-anticipated, emotional experience.
During the program, Luke (left in photo) first talked with Charles, 39, of Jefferson, Ore. about how he learned he was ill and his reactions to the news he needed a transplant. It turns out, Timothy was Charles’s second stem cell donor.
Charles’s battle with cancer began in 2012, when he started losing weight for no reason. After dropping a significant amount of weight over the next several years with no medical diagnosis, he was referred to a cancer center, where he finally learned he was battling myelodysplastic syndrome. Charles did not have a matching donor in his family, so within a few months, he received a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor.
Unfortunately, he had ongoing difficulty regaining weight, eventually ending up in a weeks-long battle with the flu that prompted doctors to run a set of blood tests. That night, the hospital called and told him to check in immediately.
“I was in full-blown leukemia, a blast cell crisis,” said Charles. “I had four months of chemo to get into remission so I could have the second transplant, and thankfully the donor search did not take long.”
Luke invited Timothy to join them, and he and Charles shared a huge hug and were clearly excited for the chance to talk in person.
“I joined the registry in 2021 during a drive at Boston College,” said Timothy. “I am a practicing Roman Catholic and joining the registry was consistent with my ethics. It is humbling knowing that Charles is a husband and father – not only did he get a second chance at life, but more happy and healthy years with his family.”
“I’m so excited to connect with Timothy,” said Charles. “We’re from such different backgrounds, I live in a small town of 3,000 and grew up in the country living the outdoors life. He is from Boston, he’s working at the DA’s office, he studied political science and is learning to speak Chinese! I can’t wait to invite him to Oregon to go camping with the family.”
“It is an honor to bring a donor and recipient together for the first time,” said Luke. “Witnessing this meeting makes me so proud to serve as an ambassador for PLM and help to spread the word on just how easy it is to save a life.”
Through the partnership with Gift of Life, Project Life Movement runs donor recruitment drives at universities in North and South Carolina, as well as at Boston College (photo, above) and other campuses though their partnership with the with the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Their goal is to grow the worldwide registry so that every patient has a better chance of finding a donor when one is needed.
“It is so easy to save the life of a blood cancer patient in need of their miracle match,” said PLM Executive Director Ann Henegar. “It all starts with a simple cheek swab. The support of the Boston College students and administrators is outstanding. 694 potential new life-saving donors! The atmosphere on Gasson Quad is amazing, it is becoming an annual tradition that we are thrilled to be a part of.”
Charles is married to Carol – who was with him for this incredible meeting – and they have two teen children. They live in Jefferson, Ore., where he manages a tire store. As a family they spend their free time camping, hunting, and Charles loves to go four-wheeling and other outdoor activities.
Timothy is an alumnus of Boston College where he studied political science and Chinese. He lives in South Boston and currently serves as a Victim-Witness Advocate at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.