Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Miracle of pregnancy saves lives

There is good news for many expectant families: Banking your baby’s cord blood stem cells could save a family member’s life. Cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following birth. That blood is a rich source of stem cells genetically unique to your baby and family. Preserving your baby’s cord blood is similar to taking out a biological insurance policy for your family. Stem cells are used to treat cancer and many other serious conditions.

Collecting the cord blood poses no risk to you or your baby. Done immediately after birth, the procedure is quick, simple, safe, and painless. Once collected, the stem cells can be stored for your family’s future use through a process called family cord blood banking.

For example, consider the case of Joseph Davis, Jr. Diagnosed at birth with sickle cell anemia, Joseph Jr. lived in constant pain and required frequent blood transfusions. To be healthy, Joseph Jr. needed a stem cell transplant. Without the transplant, there was a good chance he wouldn’t make it into his teens, said Joseph Sr. As Joseph and Darlene Davis watched their son grow progressively sicker, the Cedar Hill, Tex., couple knew they needed a miracle.

The Davises spent an entire year searching for a donor. Being African American made it extremely difficult, explained Darlene. According to the National Donor Registry, minorities and people of mixed ethnic backgrounds have significantly less chance of finding a suitable stem cell match.

When the couple conceived another child, they hoped the sibling would be a match for Joseph. Darlene calls Isaac her miracle baby. Minutes after he was born, doctors collected Isaac’s stem cell-rich umbilical cord blood. The couple banked it with Cord Blood Registry, without cost as part of its Designated Transplant Program, a free public service provided to families with medical need.

Now, Joseph Davis Jr. is one of hundreds of children who owe their lives to banked umbilical cord blood. Each baby's birth provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance to collect and freeze his or her unique cord blood stem cells for current therapies and future medical use.

Cord blood stem cells have been used to treat cancer, sickle cell anemia, and other serious illnesses. Promising medical research shows that in the future stem cells may be used to repair damaged heart tissue and treat diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, strokes, and brain and spinal cord injuries.

It’s not just the baby who benefits. Almost all mothers and about half of siblings will be a suitable match for baby’s stem cells.

A life-saving resource, cord blood must be carefully processed and stored, which is one reason many doctors trust and recommend Cord Blood Registry.

For more information about saving your baby's cord blood, call 1 888-CORD-BLOOD or go to www.cordblood.com.