Humor always compensates for the heaviness and tears, Truesdell says. There seems to be an emphasis on being more caring and loving. Twenty-one people attended the first meeting. Letters were also sent to major hospitals in the area to recruit people who had been transplanted elsewhere. We wanted to serve the population, and it didn't make any difference to us where people were transplanted.
People find out about the group mostly through word of mouth.
Patients are usually told of it when they come back for a six-month checkup. Sometimes it gets skewed. Those who are doing better may be less likely to be told the group exists. Initially, the Institute planned the group for adult BMT patients who had been out of the hospital for at least six months and were in remission. But the members decided they wanted to invite loved ones.