Help Rolando's Life-Saving Bone Marrow Transplant

** URGENT: Help Rolando's Fight Against Shwachman Diamond Syndrome **

Hey everyone, I'm Natalie Francinne. I need your help raising funds for a brave 14-year-old named Rolando Ibarra, who is battling bone marrow failure due to a rare congenital disorder called Shwachman Diamond Syndrome.

On October 15, 2024, Rolando will undergo a groundbreaking and highly risky bone marrow transplant, with his father as the "haploid" donor. This life-saving procedure requires Rolando to stay in the hospital for 2 months and near the hospital for up to 6 months.

‍‍‍ The Ibarra family has to make huge sacrifices. Rolando's parents will take time off work, and his younger siblings, aged 11 and 9, will be removed from school. His older brother, a Califire fireman, and father will manage the household while his mother stays by his side in the hospital. Please consider donating and sharing Rolando's story. Every bit helps. Let's come together to support this courageous family during their toughest battle. #HelpRolando #ShwachmanDiamondSyndrome #FamilyFirst Thank you for your generosity and support!

A bone marrow transplant journey involves several critical steps aimed at treating severe medical conditions such as bone marrow failure. Here's a general outline of what such a journey entails:

### Diagnosis and Preparation

1. **Medical Evaluation**: The patient undergoes thorough medical evaluations to determine the necessity and feasibility of a bone marrow transplant.

2. **Donor Matching**: A suitable donor is identified. This could be a family member or an unrelated donor whose tissue type matches closely with the patient.

3. **Pre-Transplant Conditioning**: The patient may undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy to prepare their body for the new bone marrow. This process aims to destroy any remaining diseased cells and suppress the immune system to reduce the risk of transplant rejection.

### Transplant Procedure 4. **Collection of Stem Cells**: Bone marrow stem cells are collected from the donor, either through a surgical procedure or a process called peripheral blood stem cell collection.

5. **Infusion**: The collected stem cells are infused into the patient's bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line. This is similar to a blood transfusion.

6. **Engraftment**: The infused stem cells travel to the patient's bone marrow and begin to produce new blood cells. This process is called engraftment and usually takes a few weeks.

### Post-Transplant Care 7. **Hospital Stay**: Patients often need to stay in the hospital for several weeks to monitor for complications such as infections or graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

8. **Close Monitoring**: Even after discharge, patients require close monitoring and frequent follow-up visits to check for engraftment success and manage any side effects or complications.

9. **Long-Term Care**: The recovery process can take several months, during which patients need to be vigilant about avoiding infections and managing any long-term effects of the transplant.

### Support Systems 10. **Family and Caregiver Support**: The patient's family often plays a crucial role in providing emotional and logistical support throughout the journey. They may need to relocate or take time off work to be close to medical facilities and provide care. Each bone marrow transplant journey is unique and tailored to the specific needs of the patient. It involves a multidisciplinary team of healthcare providers, including hematologists, oncologists, nurses, and support staff, all working together to ensure the best possible outcome.

Thank you for your support!