What is a bone marrow transplant in children
When we think about a bone marrow transplant, we do not usually imagine that many times, it is a child who needs it. However, it also occurs among the smallest, either because they suffer from some type of cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma; diseases such as some type of anemia, thalassemi
When we think about a bone marrow transplant, we do not usually imagine that many times, it is a child who needs it. However, it also occurs among the smallest, either because they suffer from some type of cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma; diseases such as some type of anemia, thalassemia or immunodeficiency syndrome; or because a chemotherapy treatment destroyed your bone marrow.
Bone marrow transplants in childhood
In the world, more than millón million transplants have already been performed in children and adults. Thanks to the work of hospitals and associations, there are already 22 million voluntary donors and 500,000 units of umbilical cord blood available. And, the work of dissemination and awareness of society about bone marrow transplants is essential to help the sick who need them.One of the hospitals in which these types of transplants are performed is
Children's Hospital Infant Jesus , in Madrid, exclusively pediatric, where more than 800 bone marrow transplants have already been carried out on babies, children and adolescents.In the hospital they know the importance of the family and the child knowing at all times the procedure that is going to be carried out, that is why they have carried out an excellent initiative.
The Niño Jesús Hospital, in collaboration with the Fundación Atresmedia
, has made a great video to explain to the children and their parents what a bone marrow transplant is and what it is. How to explain to a child in 7 steps what a bone marrow transplant is
1. When the bone marrow does not work well, it must be replaced by another one that is able to make healthy cells.
2. The first thing to do is to treat with chemotherapy to eliminate the celas that do not work.
3. Doctors have to look for healthy cells that look like yours, either among your relatives, among donor banks or even sometimes healthy umbilical cord cells. The cells are collected with a special machine to be able to do the transplant. También 4. You can also remove your own cells with a machine, remove those that are diseased and re-introduce only the good ones. It's like a blood transfusion. Durante 5. During the time that the treatment lasts, you have to be isolated to avoid infections, keep good hygiene and keep eating very well to get strong.
6. When the marrow works well, the isolation is over and ... we can go back home! Después 7. After that, you will only have to return periodically to the hospital to make some revisions and take the medication prescribed by the doctor.
Video about bone marrow transplants
Source
: Children's Hospital Infant Jesus
