Coming for a BMT

	UCSF, Moffitt Hospital

Other family members

We think it is important to have brothers and sisters involved in the transplant process whenever possible. Ideally, they should come to UCSF before the transplant begins, to learn about what will happen and feel they are a part of this family event. We have found that most brothers and sisters do best when allowed to live at home, or with relatives or friends, to continue "normal" living during the week. Visiting UCSF on weekends is important to continue normal family relationships and minimize the loneliness that separation might cause. Only children over 12 years of age will be allowed into the patient's room from the date of admission until the ANC is over 500 for three consecutive days. Siblings 12 and under may "visit" the patient by going into the anteroom just outside the patient’s room. The nurse must screen all visiting children before entering the BMT Unit.

Packing

Hospital life is informal, so please bring clothes that are comfortable for you. The weather in San Francisco is usually in the low 50's in winter (November-March) and the low 60's for the rest of the year. Pack a jacket and sweater for daily wear and a heavy jacket or light coat for evenings. Rain and fog occur frequently.

Stuffed animals, games, writing and drawing material, books, hobbies, toys, projects and schoolwork can be brought inside the transplant room. Both parents and patients need projects to pass time. A radio and/or tape recorder can also be entertaining. You may want to bring posters to decorate the room and particularly remember to bring pictures of family members. Children are encouraged to wear their own clothes.

Clothing should be washed, and dried in a hot dryer. After the clothes are dry, place them in a clean plastic bag and seal the bag. For items such as stuffed animals or cloth toys, you can place them in a hot dryer for 10-15 minutes and then into a clean plastic bag. These precautions have been shown to adequately kill any germs.

Hand toys can be washed off with alcohol at the hospital prior to bringing them into the room. Games and books can go into the room as long as they are clean.

The patient's belongings should be brought to the BMT Unit on the day of admission. Please do not bring them any earlier due to lack of space. After admission they can be brought in at any time. Also, due to the small size of the BMT rooms, we ask that you regulate the amount of personal items brought in. Our goal is to prevent a stockpile of things that aren't being used frequently. Please be aware of things that your child doesn't seem to be using often and remove them from the room. Rotating toys from home on a weekly basis will keep the rooms clear of clutter and prevent boredom.

Each room is equipped with a TV and VCR (home movies may be very entertaining), and internet access. However, if you like music, a tape recorder and/or CD player may be a pleasant addition. Only electrical items that have a 3-prong cord and are checked out by hospital electrical safety are allowed in the BMT room. Battery operated items are fine.

We hope these guidelines will make this process easier for you. If you have any questions or concerns, please ask us. Talk to the nurse coordinator or clinical nurse specialist about arranging to bring clothes and other belongings into your room.