Symposium Highlights Challenges and Victories
After Transplant

More than 250 people assembled in Dallas, Texas for the Celebrating a Second Chance at Life survivorship symposium September 20-21, 2008. Transplant survivors from as far away as India, South America and Australia participated in the symposium which was designed to help survivors and their families learn how to “live well” after transplant. 

“The weekend was incredibly beneficial to me especially during this difficult period in my recovery,” says David Mejia, a Denver resident who recently underwent a transplant for multiple myeloma. “I’m grateful to the staff and volunteers for providing invaluable information that was well-organized, addressed the important post-transplant topics, and provided the right amount of detail. I plan to share some of this knowledge with my fellow survivors in Denver.”

“An amazing group of experts” is how one attendee described the presenters who provided in-depth information on chemobrain, fatigue, caregiver challenges, preventing post-transplant complications, emotional challenges after transplant, insurance issues, sexuality, chronic graft-versus-host disease, fertility and hormone replacement therapy.  Survivors, spouses, parents and other family members shared their own experiences and expertise with each other during formal networking groups, where new friendships were forged and tips on managing post-transplant problems were exchanged.

“The most valuable part of the conference was meeting with others going through the same thing I am,” commented one survivor. “I found out I am not alone.”

The weekend marked the “new birthday” of two survivors, one of whom celebrated her first anniversary post-transplant, and a second who celebrated her 12th.  Another survivor used the opportunity to travel to Texas to meet her stem cell donor for the first time.

“There was a special energy at the symposium that comes when people who have faced a great challenge in their lifetime meet together, laugh together, even cry together,” says Sue Stewart, Executive Director of BMT InfoNet. “Everyone had something to learn and something to teach one another. It was a unique and powerful experience for everyone involved.”

“This symposium was the result of a lot of hard work and dedication by BMT InfoNet staff, our co-host the National Marrow Donor Program, our corporate sponsors and the transplant centers who helped fund and staff the event,” says Stewart. “We are most grateful for their support.” 

New Resources from the NMDP Office of Patient Advocacy