Welcome to the June 2019 edition of our nbmtLINK 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. Visit our website often for recorded series, blogs sure to inspire and much more.

One family's brave journey to live life to the fullest despite cancer.
The Kelly family was a regular family chugging along when the rug was pulled out from under them. Cancer hit, they rallied with faith in God, love, support and much more. Lisa Kelly shares how they handled it, coped and then moved forward with extraordinary grace, living their new normal.


  Lunch & Learn with the LINK

A Telephone Support Program for Patients and Their Families/Caregivers/Loved Ones 
This program is sponsored by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Incyte Corporation

Wed., July 17, 2019
Noon EST (Please note your time zone)

Improving the Quality of Life and Care for Patients Living with Chronic Graft-Versus Host Disease (cGVHD).
This presentation will focus on the unmet needs, barriers and supportive care for patients with cGVHD. It will include information on palliative care and interventions to address needs. This will be presented by Areej El-Jawahri, MD, Assist. Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Survivorship Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and Associate Director of Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Survivorship Program. Additionally, Barbara Ginseng will share her wisdom as a patient with cGVHD.


Dial in information is included on the registration form, Technical questions, call Peggy Burkhard, 248-770-5172 or  peggyburkhard@nbmtlink.org .
 
The nbmtLINK’s Jennifer Gillette, LMSW, will facilitate and lead this program. Please note: this session will not cover medical treatments or specific diseases. If you would like to talk to Jen one on one regarding other topics, email Jen at  jennifergillette@nbmtlink.org . There will be plenty of time for relevant questions related to this month's topic.The call in information is contained in the form you use to register. Note: YOU call in to participate. (We do not call you.)
LLS Patient Financial
Aid Program

As the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to fighting blood cancer, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is committed to patients and caregivers throughout their cancer experience, helping them navigate their treatments and access quality and coordinated care.
We often hear from patients and families about the incredibly challenging financial burdens that cancer brings.
Our Patient Aid Program provides financial assistance to blood cancer patients in active treatment. Eligible patients will receive a one-time $100 stipend to help offset expenses. There are no income criteria to qualify for this program. 
To learn more about LLS Patient Aid, please visit  www.LLS.org/PatientAid .
How to Apply:
You may either refer your patients and their caregivers to apply, or you can apply on their behalf:
  • Online: Online portal (24/7, Available in English only)
  • By Phone: 877-557-2672 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET)
LLS is the leading source of free blood cancer information, education and support for patients, survivors, caregivers, families and healthcare professionals. Visit  LLS.ORG  or connect with LLS Information Specialists at (800) 955-4572 to learn more about our robust education and support services, including personalized clinical-trial navigation, disease booklets, CME/CE programs and more.

Caregivers Wanted to Help Future Caregivers through this Short Survey


Caregivers experience significant
challenges while caring for a loved one
going through the hematopoietic cell
transplant (HCT) process. The journey
can often be long and unpredictable,
and caregivers are thrust into this role
without much training. The purpose of
this study is to survey caregivers about
their caregiving needs so that we may
better understand how best we can
support them before, during, and after
the transplant procedure.

The goal of this study is to gather enough information that may help us design and develop an effective intervention specifically for caregivers of patients (loved ones) going through the HCT process. Compensation available (Visa gift card).
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 an nbmtLINK 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 Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT)
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center
Be The Match Patient Support Center
Blood Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital
Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University
Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR)
City of Hope 
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center
DKMS US
Duke Adult Blood & Marrow Transplant Program, Duke Cancer Institute
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network
Henry Ford Cancer Institute Stem Cell Transplant program
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 
Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program, John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center
Spectrum Health Cancer Center
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
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..

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