Most children come to transplant having had previous hospitalizations and treatment. Most children do best with small amounts of honest concrete information. Parents and members of the health care team must remember to use language that is age appropriate to the child. The child must feel that the topic of transplantation is always open for discussion. Many families find is helpful to meet with another family who has been through a bone marrow transplant.
Families can then form networks of support for each other.
The family and child should meet with the transplant team and tour the transplant unit. Take steps to familiarize them as much as possible with the new environment and routine. Most children do best when they know what to expect. It is important to bring items from home and place them in their hospital room. This will help comfort the child.