[Norma DeLong]

Here is my opinion, for what it’s worth. I will be 3 years post BMT 12/15/18. Do not go to MD Anderson in Arizona for a BMT. My insurance wanted me to go there. I had my induction therapy there before the transplant. My neighbor is a doctor and helped me navigate the insurance system. My insurance contracted with the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix for the transplant. Their care is top notch. Insurance kicked me back to MD Anderson/Banner for follow-up. They are supposed to be second in the state for BMTs. Hard to believe.

[Norma DeLong]

Emily, I don’t have advice on what to bring for the transplant but will tell you the 3 most basic & important things that got me through the transplant were: drink 5 to 8 bottles of water a day, eat, & keep moving, no matter what or how lousy you may feel. Good luck.

[Norma DeLong]

I am not a doctor or an expert but am 2 years post an alogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant after receiving an MDS diagnosis. My hemoglobin, white blood cell count and platelet count level were all 3 at critically low levels on the initial bloodwork and the MDS was confirmed by a bone marrow biopsy. Doc told me before the confirmatory biopsy that those 3 low levels pointed to MDS. Good luck.

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