| Abstract: |
This booklet provides information about coping with bone marrow diseases, such as aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), for patients and their families. Topics include reactions to illness, reactions from others, changes to expect within the family, learning to cope, protecting relationships, the hospital setting, coping with hospital life, policies and procedures, changes in the patient’s appearance and behavior, the health care team, nights and weekends, tips for frequent hospital stays, managing family life, other patients and their families, discharge from the hospital, helping children cope, special challenges for single parent families, and special challenges for blended families. Throughout the book, the authors stress the importance of communication. Adjustments are easier for everyone if the patient, other family members, and the hospital personnel can talk openly about the patient’s treatment and the accompanying life changes that are required. The back cover of the booklet describes the goals and activities of the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, an organization that fights bone marrow diseases through patient support and research. 5 references. |