More than 200 former patients and loved ones celebrated the gift of life with their physicians, nurses and other caregivers at the City of Hope-Banner Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program’s 10th anniversary reunion on May 18.
Attendees laughed, shared stories and cried tears of joy at the annual gathering, which was held at the Phoenix Art Museum.
The City of Hope-Banner BMT Program, formerly known as the City of Hope-Samaritan BMT Program (the program’s name was recently changed to better reflect the two parent organizations), performed more than 660 transplants in its first decade. It also has accommodated almost 29,000 outpatient visits, making a profound difference in the lives of people in the Phoenix area and beyond. Patients in the program have come from 10 states
and seven countries.
“Our program has grown significantly from our opening 10 years ago, and many improvements in the care we are able to provide are on the horizon,” said Jeffrey Schriber, M.D., medical director of the City of Hope-Banner BMT Program. “We have built a program where patients from the
Phoenix area can be transplanted near their homes, and we have also worked diligently to
advance cancer treatment.”
When patients receive cancer treatment with their family and social network nearby for
support, the benefits are obvious, physicians said. “When a patient has cancer, his parents
have cancer, his children have cancer, his friends have cancer. All of those close to him
are affected,” explained Stephen J. Forman, M.D., Francis and Kathleen McNamara
Distinguished Chair in Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, chair of the Division of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation one of the program’s founders. “It is gratifying to see this program grow so rapidly. Our growth is indicative of the lives that have been
positively impacted through this program.”
Nothing speaks to the significance of the program like the personal stories of its patients, though. Among them is Justin Cude, a 17-year-old high school student who received a BMT as part of treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia. At a press conference before the reunion, Cude met his marrow donor — 32-year-old Ina Sondershaus of Germany — for the first time. Phoenix print and broadcast media covered the meeting extensively. And in a private event, former patient Nathanael Buus, of Tucson, was introduced to his marrow donor, Justin Chaney, of Indianapolis.
The donors and recipients were matched through an international registry. Those interested in registering with the National Marrow Donor Program may contact the City of Hope Blood Donor Apheresis Center at 626-301-8483.
