Howard, it’s really positive that your doctors now feel you might qualify for a stem cell transplant. Life holds no guarantees, but a bone marrow transplant for your MDS is considered a possible cure for your blood condition. It gives you the best shot at a healthy life. While it’s not an easy journey it is one well worth the effort.

The link I’m posting is my story regarding the same type of stem cell transplant you’ll be having. It’s called an allogenic transplant. You won’t be able to use your own cells for this so you’ll need cells from a donor. They’ll be found for you by a transplant coordinator when the time for transplant nears.

Here’s the link where you’ll meet other members who have had allogenic stem cell transplant along with @edb1123 @alive @kt2013 @waveg
~~ My Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT/SCT) story: Will you share yours?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/my-bone-marrow-transplant-bmt-story-will-you-share-yours/

There are other discussions of bone marrow transplants in our forum. You can peruse those by typing Bone Marrow Transplant or Stem Cell Transplant in the search box at the top.

And of course, there is a lot of information online but I caution you to avoid visiting with Dr Google.
The information points out risks, side effects and some rather frightening details that may or may not even apply to you. In my case, I really believe that knowledge is power, so I did everything I could to research my treatments for AML. However, when it came to the bone marrow transplant, I just trusted my doctors and team at Mayo to do their thing and I just did what they told me. Because the information I started to read, only served to cause anxiety. Each person is different and we don’t experience everything that’s written in these articles. So we often start dreading things that won’t even happen.

When the time gets closer for transplant you’ll meet with a transplant doctor and their team. You’ll have educational classes and quite a few tests to see if you’re able to handle the physical demands of the transplant and medications.

I’m currently mentoring a lovely woman who is 69. She is in my hometown where I mentor patients who will require a transplant in my local oncology center. She is now 13 days post transplant and doing really well! She’s very relieved and excited to be able to have this second chance at life.
So, Howard, it will feel daunting but you have a lot of us here who have walked the walk and will help you with encouragement and hope…
Do you have any specific questions?