Welcome to the June 2018 edition of our
LINK E-nnouncement!
We strive to educate, inspire and offer support and hope to patients, caregivers and health care professionals navigating the bone marrow transplant journey.
It is truly our honor.
New BLOG Post!

Meet Caregiver Extraordinaire Barry Stebbing and his lovely wife Saundra
Barry and Saundra Stebbing's lives were humming along when an unexpected diagnosis stopped them in their tracks. You will be inspired and empowered by their quest for answers and support. We were honored to support them.

“When there was no where to turn, my wife and I, deep within sorrow upon sorrow, reached out to the National Bone Marrow Transplant Link. They provided sincere compassion and gave us great hope for recovery and a future."  - Barry

(More on our peer support program below.)



There is still time to join our call this Wednesday, June 20!

Our next Lunch & Learn at NOON EST is set for this Wednesday.
Please click below (link in blue) to register. Sorry for the short notice.

We will cover physical survivorship issues. Once you click below and register, the call in details will be sent to you by Peggy Burkhard via email by Tuesday, June 19 at 5 pm.


Link Partner Spotlight
Check it out! Each month, we will be spotlighting a Link Partner. Link Partners are centers and allied organizations who support our mission in so many ways. See the bottom of this newsletter for a complete list. This month we thank and showcase Northside Hospital. This feature will provide best practices, tips, special events and much more.

If you are a Link Partner, be sure to email [email protected]
to reserve your spot!

Northside Hospital’s
New Blood and Marrow Transplant, Leukemia and Immunotherapy
56-Bed Inpatient Unit
Now Open

 
On May 1, 2018, the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital physicians, unit leadership team and staff members participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of this new 56-bed, state-of-the-art inpatient unit.

The new unit includes these unique features:
  • It is used solely for patients undergoing blood and marrow transplant, leukemia, and immunotherapy treatment. 
  • The protected unit, with specialized infection prevention features, has 56 beds.
  • All rooms are private, have bedside computers, and dedicated equipment to assist with complete assessments.
  • A state-of-the-art infection prevention bundle includes the following benefits and amenities:
  • All patient rooms, provide a protective environment, designed with solid ceilings and double HEPA-filtration. 
  • Positive pressure rooms with negative pressure ante-rooms
  • Solid surface bathrooms
  • Disposable privacy and shower curtains
  • An exercise room for patients
  • A dedicated family bathroom with shower
  • A specialized pharmacy with the capacity to mix chemotherapy/immunotherapy agents
  • A comfortable family room for caregivers, with computers, internet accessibility and disease-related literature
 
Having access to cutting-edge diagnostic testing, facilities, comprehensive patient-centered care, and a highly-trained team provide our patients with exceptional quality care that results in outstanding survival outcomes and patient satisfaction.

“Northside provides high-quality care in a very personal environment, a highly compassionate environment, and our patients are the beneficiaries,” said Dr. Solomon, medical director of Northside’s Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Matched Unrelated Donor Program and Stem Cell Processing Laboratory. “Patients at Northside Hospital do very well; they have access to high-quality clinical trials and certainly exceptional cancer care, but it is the compassion of the individuals who work here that make Northside a unique and special place.”

Peer Support Prevails!

The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link (nbmtLINK) has been successfully linking survivors with new patients through our peer support volunteer program for decades. We know cancer patients thrive through support. Additionally, survivors want to give back and this program offers a unique and powerful way to do so. We also welcome caregivers who need a listening ear to reach out.

According to Dr. Lidia Schapira, of FASCO, “Peer support” is a term we use to refer to advice and help received from fellow patients or people without medical training. Peers can be trained to offer guidance without being experts themselves. Peer support can help patients and family caregivers feel supported by a community or navigate the complex process of managing a life-altering illness such as cancer. Peer support lets a person vent their frustration, learn about new treatments or research protocols, and exchange information.”

“Our database contains more than 70 peers of all ages and diagnoses ready to be connected with someone about to undergo a life-saving bone marrow transplant,” said Jennifer Gillette, licensed staff social worker at the nbmtLINK. “Many patients like to be connected locally. As a national organization, we can accommodate that request quite often. Lately, I have been placing patients with multiple peers, or buddies to address their many diverse concerns. It is heartwarming to see the results.”

To be a peer buddy or to be matched up with a buddy, please contact our staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette, [email protected].
How We Help Others!
We are a phone call away for patients and their loved ones. From one on one peer support to scheduled call series and webinars, we are ready to ease your burden.
Patients, caregivers and health care professionals are amongst those we aim to help through our valued resource books, programs and one on one calls.
We simply cannot do it without the support of corporations, foundations and individuals willing to make a difference in the lives of others.
We Invite You to Become A Link Partner!
Link Partners include cancer centers and allied partners who annually support our mission of providing psychosocial support to patients, caregivers, their families and health care professionals dedicated to helping people navigate a bone marrow transplant. If you would like to learn more about the many benefits (books, programs, hyperlink on our website, bookmark inclusion) to being a Link Partner, please do not hesitate to contact us at (248) 358-1886. Want a free bookmark which lists our many Link Partners? Let us know and we will send you one!

American Society for Blood & Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT)
Anthem, Inc.
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center
Be The Match
Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, John Theurer Cancer Center at
Hackensack UMC
Blood Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital
Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University
Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR)
City of Hope 
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
DKMS (formerly Delete Blood Cancer)
Duke Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program
Froedtert Hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin
Henry Ford Transplant Institute
Incyte Corporation
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
Meredith A. Cowden Foundation
Nebraska Medicine
Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Institute
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine 
Spectrum Health Cancer Center
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
UPMC CancerCenter
Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center
Thank your for being a friend of the nbmtLINK. We simply could not do this without you. If you can support our efforts at this time, we thank you in advance. Every dollar helps. Wishing you a wonderful summer with lots of time to recharge and enjoy life.

Sincerely,

Peggy Burkhard, Executive Director
(248) 358-1886
National Bone Marrow Transplant Link