City of Hope, a renowned medical center in the United States, celebrates the success of its bone marrow transplant program that began in 1976. From its humble beginnings with only two physicians and three beds, the program has grown to become one of the largest and most successful of its kind in the country. With nearly 19,000 transplants performed, City of Hope ranks among the top three hospitals in the nation for total transplants.
Thanks to the advancements made by the laboratory and clinical researchers at City of Hope, bone marrow transplants have become more effective and safer, with fewer side effects. This procedure has played a crucial role in the battle against diseases of the blood and immune system, such as leukemia and lymphoma. The hospital’s success in finding nonrelated matched donors and partially matched donors has increased the number of lives saved through bone marrow transplants.
One of the highlights of City of Hope’s bone marrow transplant program is the annual “Celebration of Life” reunion. Previously bringing together over 4,000 transplant patients, donors, medical staff, and family members, this event was temporarily shifted to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2024, the reunion will be held in person on May 3rd at the Duarte campus. This meaningful gathering allows patients to commemorate their second chance at life and express gratitude to their donors.
For more information about the event, inquiries can be sent to ExternalEvents@coh.org, but please note that RSVP’s will not be accepted via email.
