SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The odds were against her. Not only did Eunique Darby need a bone marrow transplant to live, but as an African American, finding a match would be extremely difficult. The 14-year-old never lost faith.
"I had to figure somebody would be out there," said Darby.
And that somebody, who's name and location is unknown, is a 100 percent match. The family received the good news Wednesday.
Eunique's mother, Enid Darby said she cried when she heard the news.
"And it was hard to really express in any words how I felt," she said.
"After my mom and her started crying, then I actually believed it," said Darby.
Some live-saving news for a Syracuse teenager. We first met Eunique Darby in March. She is a 14-year-old in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. And now doctors say they have found a match. Our Nneka Nwosu caught up with the teen and her family and has their reaction to the good news.
Eunique is a freshman at Corcoran High School. She has had leukemia for five years and is currently undergoing her third round of chemotherapy. When the community learned about her story in March, a local bone marrow drive was held in her honor. More than 150 people registered that day and more drives have been held since then, both locally and nationally.
"We had a lot of prayers. We had a lot of people in our corner. The community has been awesome," said Eunique's aunt, Debrah Frett.
Eunique will travel to Rochester for her transplant in June. She will stay there for several months while she recovers, but she will not be "cured" until she's gone five years without a relapse.
"It's still going to be a long struggle, but, the hardest part is over," said Frett.
Eunique's family plans to hold a benefit in the coming weeks. Drives will also be held next week for other patients in need of a bone marrow transplant.
Monday, May 12 from 4 to 6 p.m., Boys and Girls Club, East Fayette Street
Friday, May 16, University Hospital