by Lawrence Faulkner

After almost two year we have the feeling that the engine is running. Our first child (Aslam), a two-years old with thalassemia, has undergone transplantation 8 days ago at the National Institute of Blood Disease of Karachi, directed by Dr. Tahir Shamsi. He is only at the beginning but so far he is doing well.

Our team is expanding: Roberta Caraher (a nurse form the pediatric stem cell transplant service of Duke University, USA), Pietro Sodani and Cristiano Gallucci (transplant physicians for the Mediterranean Institute of Hematology, Rome Italy, directed by professor Guido Lucarelli) participated in a short training session on bone marrow transplantation support care for nurses held at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The attendance was better that expected (35 nurses and 15 physicians). The course was very interactive and the feedback quite good, largely thanks to the communication skills, professionality and experience of Roberta Caraher (Bobbie). She has actually lived for two years in Peshawar were she held training courses for local nurses. We are also greatful to Dr Tahir Shamsi, the pioneer of marrow transplantation in Pakistan, his participation was greatly appreciated by all and helped to place things in the right context.

On friday 12^th we visited Shifa International hospital where everything is almost ready. Hopefully we will start with the first child by the end of October.