Children’s Guide to Bone Marrow Transplants Receives a Gold Award

Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc, won aGold Award in the patient education category for the children’s guidebook Me and My Marrow at the seventhannual National Health Information Awards.

"We are honored to win this award for Me and MyMarrow," said Donald Buell, MD, medical director at Fujisawa Healthcare,Inc. "The book has helped guide many children through this difficultprocedure, and we hope this recognition will encourage more members of thehealth-care community to use this valuable resource."

Young Inspiration

The book was inspired by 13-year-old Cristina Cuzzone ofNorthbrook, Illinois, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 9 and underwent abone marrow transplant. After recovering from the transplant, Cristinarecognized the need for a book to help guide other children through theprocedure—something she wished had been available for her.

Cristina shared her story with a neighbor employed by FujisawaHealthcare, Inc, a local pharmaceutical company. She was encouraged to developher idea and together with Fujisawa created and published the guidebook. "I’mglad I can pass on some of what I experienced to other kids undergoing the sameprocedure," she said. The book has been distributed to transplant centersthroughout the United States and Canada.

Practical Advice

Me and My Marrow explains what a transplant is, how it is done,what treatment will feel like, and how to cope during difficult times. The bookis filled with colorful illustrations and personal anecdotes as well aspractical advice from other kids who have been through a bone marrow transplant.

The book is divided into three main sections: "Before YourTransplant," "During Your Transplant," and "After YourTransplant." It covers everything from getting the news to coping withphysical change and resuming old friendships at school.

Interactive Website

An interactive version of Me and My Marrow is available on theInternet at www.meandmymarrow.com. The colorful website will continuously poststories and advice from pediatric patients about their experiences with bonemarrow transplant. In addition, the regularly updated site will suggest videos,books, newsletters, and other websites that could be helpful to bone marrowtransplant patients.