East Bay firefighter donates life-saving bone marrow

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A firefighter with the Contra Costa Fire Protection District met a man whose life he saved with a generous act of kindness.

Two years ago Daniel Andrade made a bone marrow donation to a recipient he matched through a "Be the Match" campaign.

Before this week, the only thing he knew about the man was that he was a 57-year-old from the United States.

But the two men have now met for the first time. 

Tom Darst was diagnosed with leukemia and he needed a bone marrow transplant in order to survive. 

Darst says, "It's hard to explain. It was awesome to meet him finally in person after two years".

The two men say they now consider each other family. They hope by sharing their story- others will sign up and become a bone marrow donor.