The Sarah Cannon Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at Methodist Hospital is the only program of its kind in South Texas and one of the busiest in the country. Founded in 1993, our expert medical staff has completed over 750 blood and marrow transplants, also known as bone marrow, ranking us among the most experienced programs in the nation. Our expert physician team has a depth of experience in complex haploidentical allogeneic transplants. Our program brings hope to children with leukemia, sickle cell disease and immunodeficiency syndromes in San Antonio, Texas.

To learn more about our pediatric blood and marrow transplant services, please call the Methodist Children's Cancer and Blood Center at (210) 575-2222.

Excellence in pediatric blood and marrow transplants

Foundation for the accreditation of cellular therapy

Since 1996, we have provided the highest level of care to children. We are a proud member of the Sarah Cannon Blood Cancer Research Network and accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy.

Pediatric conditions we treat

We have an inpatient unit devoted to pediatric oncology, hematology and blood and marrow transplant services treating a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
  • Acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML)
  • Chronic myeloblastic leukemia (CML)
  • Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML)
  • Lymphomas—Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Brain tumors
  • Germ cell tumors
  • Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
  • Primary immunodeficiencies, such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Thalassemia
  • Bone marrow failures

Types of transplants we provide

We work with you to determine the best course of treatment for your child's condition, such as:

  • Allogeneic⁠—This includes matched related donor, matched/mismatched unrelated donor, haploidentical donor and cord blood transplants.
  • Autologous—This involves using the patient's stem cells instead of an outside donor.

Patient support services

Our compassionate team provides comprehensive care and support for patients and their parents every step of the way, from diagnosis to recovery. The members of our multi-disciplinary team include:

  • Pediatric surgeons
  • Radiation oncologists
  • Pediatric pharmacists
  • Advanced practice nurses
  • Case managers
  • Oncology social workers
  • Oncology psychologist
  • Child life specialists

Art therapy

We offer Tracy's Kids art therapy program for pediatric oncology, hematology and bone marrow transplant patients. This program gives children diagnosed with cancer and their families a safe place to express themselves and cope with the stress and emotions of a cancer diagnosis.

Survivorship clinic

The goal of our survivorship clinic is to ensure our patients continue to advance their medical and mental health, even after completing treatment. We provide comprehensive annual visits where survivors meet with our multidisciplinary team, including a physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker, art therapist and case manager.

Adolescent and young adult services

Our blood and marrow transplant program also serves adolescents and young adults (AYA) because we understand patients between 15 and 25 years old experience various psychosocial difficulties throughout their treatment journey.

A survivor's perspective

Getting to the children's blood and marrow transplant unit

Our inpatient unit is located on the seventh floor of Methodist Children's Hospital. Our unit includes private rooms as well as a playroom that is age-appropriate for children, teens and young adults.

Our outpatient Children's Cancer and Blood Center offers a long-term care approach and is designed around family-centered care integrating child life specialists, pediatric clinical psychologists, art therapists, a virtual gaming specialist, and oncology social workers.

Please call (210) 575-2222 for additional information on how to get to our Children's Cancer and Blood Center.

About Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute

Methodist Children's Hospital is part of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare. Our family of hospitals provides comprehensive cancer services with convenient access to cutting-edge therapies for people facing cancer in our communities. From diagnosis, to treatment and survivorship care, our oncology expertise ensures you have access to locally-trusted care with the support of a globally-recognized network.

askSARAH helpline

Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (210) 507-0941.