October 19, 1999
Getting down to the bare bones of it A group of former patients who have received the gift of life have set up a Bone Marrow Transplant Club to help others who face this traumatic-yet potentially life-saving-operation Karnjariya Sukrung Born again ... Mrs Kannika (left) will never forget how terribly vulnerable she felt during her treatment for leukaemia. Now she has recovered, she visits and comforts patients who are going through the ordeal. _ YINGYONG UN-ANONGRAK Last year, Kannika Kalharat was told she had acute leukaemia and only a few months to live. She was devastated. The 28-year-old engineer fought back the tears and fear. With such little time left she tried to keep a clear head to spend her remaining time with her four-year-old son to prepare him for the future. Then she met Associate Professor Tanin Intragumtornchai, head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Chulalongkorn Hospital. The doctor told her she still had one chance-if she underwent a bone marrow transplant. Dr Tanin said the treatment had been used to treat patients suffering from aplastic anaemia, thalassemia, and some types of cancer-particularly leukaemia and lymphomas. He even gave Mrs Kannika the hope that she could recover permanently. But the path to a new life was not an easy one. For months, before and after the transplant, Mrs Kannika suffered agonising pain. Eventually, however, the transplant was declared a success. She had beaten leukaemia and this determined woman regained her life. She now appears happy and healthy, and there is no sign of the cancer. "I felt reborn," said Mrs Kannika. "I couldn't imagine then how I would ever survive. Without the transplant and my will to live, I would be dead." Recalling the trauma of the treatment, Mrs Kannika and seven other patients subsequently founded the Bone Marrow Transplant Club of Chulalongkorn Hospital. "I wanted to help others who were going through the same experiences I did to be able to come out of the misery and stand here like me," she said. From eight original members almost a year ago, the present membership of the club now stands at about 50 people. As a member Mrs Kannika pays regular visits to patients in Chulalongkorn Hospital. "The treatment is so drastic and painful that those undergoing it are very vulnerable to becoming depressed," said Mrs Kannika. "Without the mental strength, some patients may feel like giving up. So the presence of somebody who has gone through a similar experience is possibly the best way to encourage them. "It makes them realise they too can get through such a difficult time to go on with their lives." Standing at a patients' bedside she sees a reflection of herself. A transplant gives hope, but losing one's hair, terrible vomiting and excruciating nausea following high doses of chemotherapy are all part of the deal. Then there is the danger of a series of infections and bleeding following the transplant. Following her transplant, Mrs Kannika had to wait for a new healthy balance of blood cells to be produced. She had to stay in a special room where even the air was cleansed through a filter to prevent infection. Everything in the room had to be sanitary and immaculate. Visiting time was limited to just five minutes per person per day. For the two months she was in the room, Mrs Kannika was alone. With her immune system so vulnerable she succumbed to a number of infections and suffered headaches, fever and diarrhoea. She had to take morphine to kill the pain. Infections in her mouth and throat made swallowing water feel like swallowing razor blades. For most of the two months she had to be fed intravenously. "I felt so much pain that sometimes I thought death would be a big relief," she said. However, being strong-willed, and with the support of her family, friends, doctors, and nurses, Mrs Kannika came through. "I realised then that moral support is very important. No matter how good the doctor or medication, without moral support things would have been much more difficult," said Mrs Kannika. With this in mind, one of the BMC's major activities is to regularly visit transplant patients. Once the patients are scheduled for the transplant, the club's coordinator, Nantanat Yongsilviriyakul, visits them and gives them a cheering card. But most importantly, she talks to them about what they can expect in the days to come-and how they might handle the situations. Then each week, several club volunteers take turns in visiting the patient. "Although the patients know about the disease and treatment from their doctor, it's different hearing it from someone who has been through what they are going through," said Mrs Kannika. "The fact the patients see us healthy and lively will cheer them up. They will feel they too can make it." Apart from moral support, the club also releases a bimonthly newsletter, BMC News , with information about bone marrow transplants. It's available to its members, patients and the public. Assoc Prof Tanin Intragumtornchai, head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Chulalongkorn Hospital. "Transplant treatment is unfamiliar to many Thais even though it's been been done in Thailand for about 10 years," said Ms Nantanat, the Club's coordinator. The newsletters give important information about the treatment; the preparation before the transplant, and how to look after oneself afterwards. Other important information concerns money. The treatment is costly-at least 600,000 baht. The newsletters and the members share information and advice on how new patients can support themselves either through insurance policies, or by seeking financial help from hospitals or government welfare services. "We try in every way to reduce the patient's worries and stress, be they financial, family, or work worries. This helps the healing process," said Ms Nantanat. The club has also set up a hotline offering specialised counselling for transplant patients. Many patients who survive a transplant operation and received help from the BMC subsequently become club's volunteers. Some have also donated money to fund the club's activities. In the future, the BMC plans to create a network of patients throughout the country. "The patients seem to appreciate our club's activities. We would like others to have similar support. It is one of the very important factors in helping patients recover," Ms Nantanat said. * "We Care" is a weekly series honouring people who believe in giving. Apart from supporting these causes, you can also let us know about people who unselfishly help others so we can make more people aware of their efforts. Fax 'We Care' on 240-3668 or call 240-3700 ext 3208 or 3212. Email can be sent to: sanitsuda@bangkokpost.net. For a comprehensive list of charities covered by Outlook's 'We Care' weekly series, see the Bangkok Post Web site at http://www.bangkokpost.net/outlookwecare/. Info for donations - Name: Bone Marrow Transplant Club (BMC) - Address: Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University - Tel: 632-1682 and 632-2600 - Bank Account: Bone Marrow Transplant Club (BMC) - Bank: Siam Commercial Bank, Thai Red Cross Society Branch - Account number: 045-2-61761-5 The hotline number for the club is 632-1682. It runs from Monday to Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.		Current Issues in Thailand Bangkok Post Year-end Economic Review NEW! SEA Games news archive! Database 10 yrs Thailand Tatler Magazine Classifieds Jobs Property Entertainment Investment Education Travel Sales Learn English Weekly Database Horizons NiteOwl Student Weekly Real Time Motoring Special We Care NEW! Phudhong Foundation leper colony Back Issues Company Servcies Subscriptions Advertising Annual Report
© Copyright The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 1999 Last Modified: Tue, Oct 19, 1999 For comments and letters to the editor see : notes Comments to: Webmaster Advertisng enquiries to Internet Marketing