18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Preparing for the Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant

In March, 2018, my grandmother Ruth was diagnosed with AML-MRC, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with myelodysplastic related changes. It originated as a disease called Myelodysplastic Syndrome, or MDS. She was 70 years old at the time. On December 3rd of 2019, she underwent a life-saving bone marrow stem cell transplant. On a cellular level, she is a new human. We are eternally grateful to her anonymous donor, one of only a few on earth who was a perfect genetic match. This transplant was overwhelming and frightening for both her and our family. Preparing for it was difficult, and my mother shaving her head was more painful than any of us had anticipated. The months following, however, were not easy. Exhausted and sick, she needed to have my mother go live with her to care for her daily until she recovered. It took a long time for her to be able to live on her own, but she is now living alone and recovering.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 04.2020
Date Uploaded: 09.2020
Photo Location: Gilbert, Arizona, United States of America
Copyright: © Chloe Koebel