February 12, 2025 · by Moms Against Poverty

The Children’s Treatment Process

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  1. Introduction, Initial Identification and Diagnosis: Pediatric hematological diseases, such as major thalassemia and Fanconi anemia, require lifelong blood transfusions. Since many villages lack the necessary facilities to treat children with these critical conditions, most affected children do not receive appropriate treatment and suffer from a poor quality of life. Due to disease complications and the need for frequent transfusions, these pediatric patients face a high risk of mortality. Scientific evidence indicates that bone marrow transplantation can cure these conditions—with a success rate of up to 90%, allowing these children to lead normal lives similar to those of their healthy peers. Given the overwhelming costs associated with treatment, this project involves collaboration between the charity and pediatric hematology centers and doctors in the targeted underserved regions. Patients requiring a bone marrow transplant and financial assistance are referred to the charity.
  2. Referral for Specialized Treatment: At this stage, the charity coordinates with physicians and hospitals to arrange for the child’s transfer to Tehran and their admission to a hospital. All treatment processes and follow-ups are handled by the charity’s social worker. The charity fully covers expenses for travel, food, partial accommodation (when free lodging facilities are full), medications, hospital bills, doctor visits, and other related costs.
  3. Preparation for Transplant:
    • Medical Preparation: The child undergoes various tests to evaluate overall health, including heart, liver, and kidney function, and starts medication. Once the hospital’s social work department approves this treatment stage, the charity processes payments. Payments are made directly to pharmacies or hospitals, or in cases of additional expenses, reimbursements are transferred to the child’s legal guardian upon submission of original invoices.
    • Finding a Donor: If the family has other children, siblings are evaluated as potential donors. If no familial match is found, a search is conducted in stem cell banks.
    • Psychological and Social Preparation: Families are informed about the long treatment process, potential complications, and the necessity of staying in Tehran for an extended period. Many mothers, especially from underprivileged areas, lack literacy or the ability to independently manage the child’s care. As this illness requires close monitoring, fathers often leave their jobs and hometowns to support their wives and children.
  4. Treatment Process in the Specialized Hospital:
    • Relocation of the Child and Family: Before transferring the patient to Tehran, the charity’s social worker coordinates with free lodging centers to arrange accommodations. The child and their family are housed at these centers. In most cases, the donor is a sibling, so the donor also accompanies the family. Additionally, if the family has younger children, the parents often bring them along due to the lack of caregiving options in their hometown. Until the transplant, the charity fully covers the family’s food expenses.
    • Pre-Transplant Phase: The child undergoes chemotherapy to destroy defective bone marrow and prepare for receiving new cells. This stage often results in severe weakness and temporary complications, such as infections. During this time, the child requires specific medications and nutritional support, all of which are funded by the charity to support the child and their family.
    • Transplant Procedure: Stem cells collected from the donor are transplanted into the child in a strictly monitored and sterile environment. This phase is both physically and emotionally challenging for the child.
    • Post-Transplant Care: After the transplant, the child requires meticulous care to prevent infections and complications such as Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD). Immunosuppressive medications are prescribed, and adherence to a specialized diet is critical. The charity strives to cover all financial expenses at this stage. The child and their family are housed in lodging facilities, which provide a limited amount of food specifically for the patient. However, this food is often insufficient. The following additional items are essential during their stay for the transplant process:
      • Nutritious foods such as lamb, beef, chicken, rice, bananas, and other fruits
      • Diapers
      • Masks
      • Bottled water for children
  5. Return to the Village and Long-Term Care: Once the transplant is successful and the child’s condition stabilizes, the family returns to their village. However, regular follow-ups (several times a year) in Tehran remain necessary for long-term care.
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