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| The Transplant It may surprise you that kids often say their bone marrow transplant or rescue is anticlimactic—not that big an event compared to other procedures they’ve had. Maybe that’s because BMTs and SCTs aren’t surgeries. They’re infusions (slow injections), similar to blood transfusions. Here’s what to expect on your transplant day and beyond. |
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Kids remember their transplant day in different ways.  “My
brother was my donor. Now my family celebrates my transplant day as a
holiday. We call it ‘Togetherness Day.’ Since that day, my brother and I will always be together—no matter what.”  Age 9, 1 1/2 years after transplant  “When I got my cells, the taste in my mouth was bad. I ate mint candy to cover it up. The candy really helped.”  Age 10, 8 months after transplant |
Receiving Your Cells On the day of your transplant, the donated stem cells will be given to you through your central line. It takes close to an hour for the cells to drip from their IV bag into your bloodstream. You’ll feel no pain and can talk to family members, watch TV, or just rest. You’ll be given medications before the transplant to prevent serious reactions from occurring. Nurses and doctors will watch you closely to treat any reactions you may have. How Your Body Responds Reactions during transplants are not very common. Taking deep breaths might cause you to cough due to tiny particles in the donated marrow moving through your lungs’ blood vessels. Sometimes patients get chills, a mild fever, or a skin rash. Your urine may also turn pink or red for a few days, which is normal—your body’s just getting rid of extra red blood cells that may have been mixed in with the stem cells. If you’re receiving marrow or stem cells that were frozen (because you donated them earlier or they were shipped from another state or country), you may notice a smell or a taste similar to garlic. This is a common side effect. It’s caused by the chemical that the stem cells were stored in to keep them healthy for you. The taste or odor lasts a day or two. Your nurse can give you medicine if it makes you feel nauseous. |