Bucks County Man Meets Boy Whose Life He Saved By Donating Stem Cells

SWARTHMORE, Pa. (CBS) - After two years of anticipation, a local coach finally met the seven-year-old boy whose life he saved because of a decision he made while he was in college more than a decade ago.

Bucks County attorney and Swarthmore fencing coach Marshal Davis had forgotten he had signed up as a bone marrow donor while at the University of Florida until the call came two years ago.

The 31-year-old man was a match for a suburban Chicago boy who was going to develop leukemia without the stem cells. Davis underwent the procedure and doctors say the prognosis for Jacob Kowalik is good and the stem cells saved his life.

"I can't even really process it," Davis said. "It's something I never thought I'd have the opportunity to do and I feel grateful and humbled that I was able to do that."

Davis was in Chicago for a fencing tournament two months ago and met Jacob and his family for the first time. He says Jacob was shy at first but then warmed up and wouldn't leave his side.

Jacob wears a University of Florida hat and sleeps with a Swarthmore mascot stuffed animal every day.

Reported by Brad Segall, KYW Newsradio