Pediatric blood and marrow transplant

Bone marrow exists inside your bones and is softer than the outer shell of the bone. Bone marrow is the fastest growing organ in your body and works as a kind of factory for replacing and manufacturing blood cells. Bone marrow is the factory site for white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. When bone marrow is not able to work properly, it affects the blood cells in your body.

A bone marrow transplant effectively replaces the existing bone marrow with bone marrow from a donor. The donor bone marrow acts as a replacement factory and restores the production and manufacturing of blood cells to a normal level. Recovery time takes several weeks but can vary from patient to patient.

There are a number of reasons why a child may need a bone marrow transplant, and they primarily surround a cancer or blood disorder diagnosis. Some illnesses in the bone marrow, like blood cancer, can cause the bone marrow to stop functioning correctly.

Other times, cancer treatment, like chemotherapy, may wipe out a child’s healthy bone marrow. Although, this is done intentionally, as bone marrow can be replaced through a donor.

The Bone Marrow Transplant Unit is staffed with physicians who are passionate about what they do. Our pediatric hematologists and oncologists get to know you and your child individually and take the extra time to help you both understand what is going on.

Our physicians strive to step into the role of educator for you and other family members, helping you understand the clinical language and science behind your child’s condition and treatment during a time of shock and intensity.

We believe that our best outcomes come as a result of coupling excellent medical care with comprehensive support for your child and family.

We typically receive referrals from your child’s primary care physician or emergency medicine doctor. Other times, referral to our Bone Marrow Transplant Unit will be made at the time of an initial blood cancer or blood disorder diagnosis. A peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation may be the primary therapy that is recommended. This technique involves removing circulating blood from a donor to your child. Other times, if an initial therapy proves to be ineffective, the next step will be a bone marrow transplant.