Post Bone Marrow Transplant changes…rebuilding your identity!

Posted by Lori, Volunteer Mentor @loribmt, 2 days ago

Each bone marrow transplant story is unique. It starts with a disease or condition for which this transplant was required to offer any hope for survival. The gift of stem cells from a DNA twin, whether related or stranger, is a precious second chance at life. As you can imagine, a gift like that doesn’t come without a price…not speaking financially. When you know, you know!
Since my allo transplant 6+ years ago, I’ve learned it’s important to keep a sense of humor, a sense of adventure and be able accept the unexpected! I’ve said good bye to bits of my old life but wow, this new one has brought on such an appreciation for every little thing!

In the reply section below is an excerpt from an article in
The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link's Post which I found to be so helpful! (As are all of their articles!)
Rebuilding Identity After a Bone Marrow Transplant. https://www.nbmtlink.org

I’d love to hear how you’ve accepted, adapted and rolled on with your new immune system!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) & CAR-T Cell Therapy Support Group.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | 2 days ago

The National Bone Marrow
Transplant Link's Post:
Rebuilding Identity After a Bone Marrow Transplant

Identity change is normal:
Recovery alters how you see yourself — physically, emotionally, and socially.
This “biographical disruption” is part of healing, not a setback.
Grieve the old you:
It’s healthy to mourn who you were before transplant.
Express the loss through journaling, therapy, or conversation.
You can love who you were and still grow into someone new.
Focus on values, not just roles:
Reconnect with what matters most — compassion, courage, creativity, faith, etc.
Living by your values helps form a new, authentic identity.
Values-based coping improves post-traumatic growth.
Integrate your experience into your story:
Don’t erase the transplant experience — make meaning from it.
Find purpose through advocacy, volunteering, or creative expression.
Narrative reconstruction can reduce distress and build resilience.
Redefine strength and success:
Strength now may mean resting, asking for help, or setting limits.
Set small, achievable goals that restore confidence.
Celebrate progress over perfection.
Seek professional and peer support:
Work with oncology social workers, rehab psychologists, or survivorship clinics.
Therapies like ACT and Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy can help.
Join BMT-specific peer groups (e.g., NBMT Link, BMT InfoNet, The Bloodline).
Practice self-compassion:
Be gentle with yourself — your body and mind have been through trauma.
Replace self-criticism with kindness: “I’m doing my best with what I’ve been through.”
Self-compassion fosters emotional healing and identity acceptance.
Professional insight:
“Post-transplant identity is not about returning to who you were. It’s about discovering the wholeness that can exist within change.”
— Dr. Jamie Jacobs, Psychosocial Oncology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital

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