TITLE: "Me and my marrow" a kid's book educates a resident on transplants

Friday just wasn't one of my better days. In fact, I might even go so far as to label it a "bad day." May be I got up on the wrong side of the bed. Maybe I didn't eat enough breakfast. Or maybe it was just one of those unpredictable, bad days. It didn't start out that way. In fact, until about half way through the morning, it was a too good to be true day. Heme-onc rounds were going well, I was nailing the assessments and plans. My medical student's presentations went without a hitch. I was just about to pat myself smuggly on the back for being such a super star intern when a question from the attending startle me out of my complacency.

"Rachel, explain what side effects you will see with graft versus host disease [for those of you who don't know, this is a potential complication of bone marrow transplants]." Like a deer in headlights I jerked out of my imaginings. Graft versus host... Hmm I knew that one of my patients might be experiencing it in the near future, but I honestly hadn't read about it yet--although to my credit I fully intended to read about it that night. "I think it has something to do with the skin??" I quickly fumbled. "Yes," said my persistent attending, "What happens to the skin AND what other organs are affected?" Oh dear, I was totally unprepared for this question. After making multiple wrong attempts to give a cogent sounding answer I finally gave up. Clearly, I didn't have a clue what I was talking about. "No problem," I was told "go read up on the subject!" Great! I have an opportunity to redeem my deflated reputation. Read I would. But what?!? I didn't have long to wait. Our team broke up at that point, the attending went off to sign some papers, my medical students went of to put notes in the chart and the senior resident had disappeared to find a nurse.

I was alone when the child life specialist approached me. "I think I have something that will help you understand the bone marrow better," she said. "Great!" I thought, "I definitely haven't had time to do a lot of literature searches for a great article, this should save me some time." "I've given this book to lots of patients and their families and it really helps them get a grasp of the CONCEPTS" she continued, the book is a little simplistic, but I think it will be an assistance. At this she proceded to hand me "me and my marrow, a kid's guide to bome marrow transplants." ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I was dumbfounded! I think I somehow mumbled a "thank you" before fleeing to the bathroom to nurse my mortally wounded pride.

So, if any of you want to learn about bone marrow. Let me suggest a wonderful little book that is written at a level that even a first year resident or second grader can understand "me and my marrow" a great book you won't be able to put down....