Unstoppable Testimonies

Dear unstoppable family, I am Bibiana and at the age of 38 I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. At the time, I was pregnant. Since it was acute leukaemia, treatment had to be started quickly and I was forced to terminate the pregnancy as I was only 4 months pregnant. Absorbing the two pieces of news, the diagnosis and the loss of the baby, was a double whammy for me and my family. However, we quickly managed to transform the situation and my son became my guardian angel and I felt that all the strength, energy and courage in my most critical moments came from him and I also owed it to him. I was going to come through for him. He has always been and will always be my guide. 

I was transplanted from an anonymous bone marrow donor who was 100% compatible with me. The match was found thanks to the Bone Marrow Donor Registry of the Josep Carreras Foundation and, thanks to this magic, since then, I have been following a new path in which I say THANK YOU every day. I believe that when life gives you a second chance, life loves you a great deal. 

My post-transplant process was carried out at home thanks to the pioneering service of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona in its Home Unit. I had to have a 24-hour carer, in this case it was my mother, and the nurses visited me every day at home to give me full check-ups and adjust my medication. It was quite an experience and a challenge because I was quite weak from the side effects, but we passed it with flying colours. I remember with special fondness blowing out my first candles at 100 days post-transplant. Overcoming short-term goals!

On this journey I have met some extraordinary people. All my medical team, the entire Hemato 2.4. ward and my new unstoppable family from whom I am learning a lot and who each year celebrate the Day of the Unstoppable with excitement and emotion. What a privilege it is for us to be able to feel so well accompanied by the Foundation, its partners and ambassadors!

Thanks to my donor who decided to take the step of donating bone marrow to save my life, today, everything around me takes on greater value and meaning. I live from a stance of joy and gratitude.

So, if you are starting your treatment, be sure to remain strong, patient and have confidence. We are unstoppable!