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When Your Child Needs a Transplant

For some children, a bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also called a BMT) offers the best chance for a cure of a life-threatening disease. If you are trying to decide whether a transplant is the right option or you are getting ready for your child's transplant, you have a lot to think about.

Making treatment choices

Learning about transplant can help you talk to your child's doctor and make informed choices about your child's health care.

Getting ready

Knowing what to expect can help you prepare your child, yourself and your family for the transplant process.

Planning ahead

As your child recovers from transplant, you can plan for him or her to gradually return to school and other activities. It's also important to know what to watch for and how to manage possible transplant complications.

Finding support and resources

You may feel overwhelmed by the choices and adjustments that your family will make if a transplant is the best option for your child. Just remember that you are not alone.

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Office of Patient Advocacy is here to help. The Office of Patient Advocacy supports patients and families from diagnosis through survivorship with programs, resources and services that meet each patient's needs. You can contact the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy by phone or e-mail.

Contributing editors

K. Scott Baker, M.D., Director, Blood and Marrow Transplant Outpatient Clinic, University of Minnesota BMT Program at Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minn.
Nancy J. Bunin, M.D., Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
Eva C. Guinan, M.D., Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital, Boston, Mass.
Mary Jo Kupst, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin; Director, Program in Pediatric Psychology, Milwaukee, Wis.

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