Contact:  Andrea Greif, (914) 821-8958

WHITE PLAINS, NY - For a child with blood cancer, getting a stem cell transplant often involves long stays at the hospital, with much of the time spent in isolation. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has produced a new coloring book designed to help children confront their fears and anxieties by presenting information about this difficult experience in a fun, child appropriate format. The coloring book offers encouragement and support during the hospital stay, while also providing entertainment.

With illustrations by Brian Yanish, the Stem Cell Transplant Coloring Book depicts some of the technology and procedures that the children will encounter, including mouth swabs, central lines, gloves and facemasks. It addresses the transplant team, doctors, nurses and other hospital faculty who will become part of the child's daily life during his or her stay. One page is a "mood-o-meter," while another contains a maze to help the children escape from boredom. The book includes pages for coloring as well as other activities such as cutout door-hangers and postcards.

"We hope that this coloring book provides some comfort to children undergoing this difficult process," said Robin Kornhaber, the Society's senior vice president of patient services. "Children may enjoy using the coloring book with parents, older siblings or staff, or on their own. In addition to alleviating boredom and providing entertainment, we hope that it will help to generate discussion, questions and expressions of feelings." 

The book was produced with input from the pediatric oncology teams at Hackensack University Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, The Rochester Medical Center.

The free book can be obtained by calling The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, headquartered in White Plains, NY, with 66 chapters in the United States and Canada, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. The Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding in 1949, the Society has invested more than $424 million in research specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, the Society made over 2.4 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

For more information about blood cancer, visit www.LLS.org or call the Society's Information Resource Center (IRC), a call center staffed by master's level social workers, nurses and health educators who provide information, support and resources to patients and their families and caregivers. IRC information specialists are available at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.