Orlando Health Logo
About Us
Web Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program Banner

Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program

Contact Us (321) 841-8588

Expert Care for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders

At the Haley Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at Orlando Health Children's Arnold Palmer Hospital, we understand how difficult it can be for your child to be diagnosed with cancer or another serious condition. Our partnership with the Orlando Health Cancer Institute means we offer all the services of a top-rated cancer center and a trusted pediatric hospital. Your child can receive a transplant and follow-up care in one location, so you don’t have to worry about traveling to other cities or hospitals. And the caring and experienced experts in our Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy program will guide you and your child through the entire treatment process, providing support every step of the way.

What Is Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy?

A bone marrow transplant, which also is called a stem cell transplant, is a procedure that adds healthy stem cells to your child’s body. These stem cells then stimulate new bone marrow growth, which in turn produces blood cells. Stem cells can turn into platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells, which your child’s body needs to function. 

A bone marrow transplant treats cancer and other blood or immune system disorders. It replaces the cancerous or damaged cells inside the marrow with healthy ones. Our transplant team can use your child’s stem cells, cells from a donor or cells from umbilical cord blood.

Advantages for Pediatric Patients

For children, bone marrow transplant can offer specific treatment advantages, including:

  • Replacing diseased bone marrow with healthy, functioning bone marrow for conditions such as leukemia, aplastic anemia and sickle cell anemia
  • Regenerating a new immune system that will fight leukemia or other cancers not killed by the chemotherapy or radiation
  • Replacing the bone marrow and restoring its normal function after chemotherapy or radiation are given to treat a malignancy. This process is known as a rescue. This is done for such diseases as lymphoma, neuroblastoma and high risk brain tumors
  • Replacing bone marrow with genetically healthy bone marrow to prevent more damage from a genetic disease such as Hurler's syndrome and adrenoleukodystrophy

Support Services for Your Family

At Orlando Health Children's Arnold Palmer Hospital, we know that families are essential in helping children heal. That’s why we offer a full range of support services for both the adults and children in your child’s life, including:

  • Child Life Program: Our certified specialists have received specific training on ways to help children and teens have positive healthcare experiences. Our child life team focuses on reducing the stress and uncertainty of medical visits and procedures by providing individualized care — including play and learning — based on your child’s age, development, background, temperament and past medical experiences.

  • Palliative Care: Our team works to maximize the quality of life for our patients so every child can experience the best days possible. Our experts help advise families through the difficult decisions about care.

  • Survivorship Program: We believe in ongoing support for our pediatric cancer survivors at Orlando Health Children's Arnold Palmer Hospital. Our Follow-up After Cancer Treatment (FACT) Program helps your child stay healthy and cancer-free. The FACT Program is the first and oldest program for child, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors in Central Florida.

Contact Us

For more information or to make an appointment, please call (321) 841-8588.

Contact Us (321) 841-8588

Frequently Asked Questions

One of your family members may be a match for your child’s transplant. Parents and siblings have a high chance of being a match. We also use the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and other registries to find a compatible match.

Side effects depend on whether the stem cells come from your child’s own cells (autologous) or a donor (allogenic). Side effects that can occur from either type of transplant include:

  • Anemia (low blood count)
  • Fever
  • Mouth sores
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

The main risk of receiving donor cells is the body rejecting the cells or developing Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which is when the cells attack the body.

Most side effects can be controlled. Your stem cell transplant physician has expertise in managing these symptoms.

Your child may need to wait up to one year before going back to school. It can take up to 12 months for their immune system to go back to normal after a transplant. Our specialists can help determine when it is safe to return to school.

Your child likely will only need one bone marrow transplant. However, there are some disorders that may require additional transplants. We will work with you to determine how many transplants your child needs.

The hospital stay is typically four to six weeks, based on the type of transplant.

No, bone marrow transplant is an inpatient procedure, and your child would stay in the hospital following the transplant to minimize the risk of infections and other complication.

No, usually patients do not feel any pain during the transplant.

Conditions & Treatments

Our specialists at the Haley Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders can treat cancers and noncancerous diseases that affect the body’s bone marrow in children.

Learn More

What to Expect During Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy

Our Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy team will explain every step of the treatment process and prepare you and your child, so you know what to expect.

Learn More