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My Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT/SCT) story: Will you share yours?
Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) & CAR-T Cell Therapy | Last Active: Jun 18 8:57pm | Replies (402)Comment receiving replies
@loribmt Thanks SO much for your prompt reply. My father will be receiving an autologous transplant. We’re told he will need to stay in Rochester for 5-6wks for transplant and recovery. I’ve recently reached out to Serenity House for a possible rental home for the duration of their stay. They seem like a really nice option. I have concerns regarding my mother’s ability to be his caregiver 24/7 as they will be out of state and without family. I’m planning to fly out and help for a week(-hopefully 2wks) but I also have my immediate family that I’m responsible for. I’m certain that we aren’t the only family to navigate all of this and would be most grateful to learn from others.
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☺️ I can totally empathize with the anxiety you and your family are experiencing. The entire situation, from the diagnosis to treatment can feel so overwhelming. Being away from home for 5-6 weeks while undergoing treatment seems daunting but it’s important to have that level of consistent care and to be near the clinic. And once they’re situated with lodging, it does start feeling like home.
Serenity house is a good source for finding lodging. Also the Concierge desk at Mayo Rochester is very helpful as well if your other leads don’t pan out. Here’s a link to the Concierge service.
Five Ways to Contact Mayo Concierge Services
Phone: 507-538-8438
Live Chat: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide
Email: concierge@mayo.edu
Web form: https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/becoming-a-patient/concierge-travel-services
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Keeping in mind while you search for lodging for your parents that your dad will require daily trips to the clinic. The SCT process is mostly outpatient, except for a few days in the hospital on the transplant floor (Methodist Hospital, not St Mary’s). So that means a lot of back and forth trips to the clinic and parking can be a challenge. So finding a place to stay where they’re near the clinic, either attached via tunnels/skywalks or a rental/transplant house, etc., that will have a shuttle service is very handy.
Another member who recently had her auto-SCT at Mayo-Rochester is @countrygirlusa. Her story is a little different than your dads. She didn’t have MM but another challenging disease which required the SCT. This is the story she shared of her experience. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/716285/
You mentioned coming to help your parents out during your dad’s transplant. From experience those first 2 weeks post transplant are probably the most challenging as your dad will be very tired and possibly nauseated. He’ll need frequent trips to the clinic and may even require a wheel chair if he’s feeling weak. (Wheelchairs are readily available all over the clinic) So those 2 weeks might be when mom will need your help the most. And possibly when they set up housekeeping? We can talk more about that later after you’ve found lodging to see what they’ll need. ☺️
Take a breath! This is all doable. There can be some less than pleasant days but they pass quickly and this journey is worth the effort! Will your parents be driving or flying to Rochester?