Family Resources

Helpful Websites

Explore these websites to learn more about conditions related to bone marrow failure:

• Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF)
• Diamond Blackfan Anemia Foundation
• Fanconi Cancer Foundation
• Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance
• Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Foundation
• Team Telomere

Glossary of Terms

Use this glossary of terms to help as you learn more about bone marrow failure and related conditions.

• Anemia: Decreased number of red blood cells.
• Bone marrow: The spongy center of bones that is the “factory” for all blood cells in circulation.
• Bone marrow biopsy: A procedure by which a small sample of bone marrow is taken from the hip bone.
• Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen so that red blood cells can transport oxygen from lungs to organs or tissues. A decreased level of this protein results in anemia.
• Immunosuppressive therapy (IST): Medications used to suppress the body's immune response and allow the bone marrow stem cells to grow and make new blood cells.
• Neutrophil: One type of white blood cells important in fighting bacteria and fungi.
• Petechiae: Tiny, flat, red pinpoint spots on skin caused by bleeding under the skin from broken capillaries.
• Platelet: A component of blood involved in clotting. Low number of platelets can lead to petechiae, easy bruising or easy bleeding.
• Red blood cell: A type of blood cell responsible for transporting oxygen from lungs to tissues and carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
• White blood cell: A type of blood cell responsible for fighting infection.