Donate Cord Blood for Someone in Need

Stem cells are used to treat critical diseases including lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer and over 70 diseases. If stem cells can be banked then they can be used for people who direly need matching stem cells for treatment. By donating umbilical cord blood you can make a difference in one’s life. Umbilical cord blood contains blood forming cells which the baby no longer requires after it is born. The stem cells found in umbilical cord can be used to grow healthy cell tissue which can be used for treating serious ailments like brain tumors, osteoporosis, sickle cell disease, leukemia and other types of cancer. In future years stem cells collected from cord blood can be used to treat other critical diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and diabetes.

The idea of preserving cord blood cell initially involved controversy and certain ethical issues have to be handled if it is collected from embryonic stem cells. No discomfort is caused to the mother or child during umbilical cord blood collection as it is collected only after the cord is detached from the baby after its birth. If you feel like donating your child’s umbilical cord blood for preservation or stem cell research then you need to take some simple but advanced preparation. Once the cord is cut the obstetrician must act immediately and withdraw the blood. The cord blood is to be collected within 10 to 15 minutes after the birth of the child.

Generally the umbilical cord is thrown away after a child’s delivery but now with some planned methods its blood can be collected to help numerous patients. Most of the times patients are not lucky enough to get stem cells that would match their tissue type. But if we have more expecting parents willing to donate their baby’s umbilical cord blood then the chance of these people in getting suitable stem cells enhances.

The donated cord blood is tested for both genetic issues and diseases. If the blood collected does not fulfill the required criteria then with the parents’ consent it is sent for stem cell research. On meeting the requirements the collected umbilical cord can be preserved at a public cord blood bank from where doctors can search suitable matches for their patients. By paying certain amount of yearly fees it can be also stored in private cord blood banks which can be used for your own family.

If you want to donate your child’s cord blood then first of all find out whether the hospital is a cord blood donation participating hospital. Then you can take aid from the concerned obstetrician about making arrangement for the donation. Generally by the 34^th week of pregnancy you should check whether arrangements have been set between the hospital and a cord blood bank. A collection kit is sent by the cord blood bank which you can give to the concerned doctor for collecting the umbilical cord blood during delivery. At certain cases the cord blood banks directly work with the concerned hospital or doctor. If you are carrying the collection kit to the hospital make sure to pack it in the bag which you intend to carry to the delivery room.

Cord blood saves life

It was devastating news for all of us when doctor told that our two year old daughter, Julie is suffering from cancer, T-cell lymphoma. We thought that this is it and our child would not be able to make another move in her life. He fixed our next day appointment to an oncologist.

The other day, oncologist took some tests and admitted Julie for chemotherapy. Other than this he also talked about cord blood donation benefits for our next expected child. He told us that cord blood cells from a new born child can be extracted without any risk involved so that it can be transplanted into already existing child. He also told about prior cord blood donation regimen as due to this it is easy to start early treatment, if required.

We kept the idea of keeping cord blood for our next child and thank god Julie was saved with chemotherapy.

We also decided to donate cord blood of our second child when our first child Andrew was detected with T-cell disease. Andrew was only four years, when specialists told us that he is suffering from cancer and it is only cord blood which can save his life. Entire treatment process was a traumatic situation for him which soon got away with his successful treatment.

We however, decided to donate cord blood for our next child so that he can be cured immediately in case of any such ailment. Our family doctor told us about cord blood donation in public and private bank. Both of them have different regimens based on which we decided to donate cord blood of our second child in one of such bank. Andrew is now well and we feel safe for his sister also.

Moreover, how important cord blood collection is in one’s life was realized by us when my friend’s first child, Jonathon was suffering from T-cell lymphoma. Every moment of his life became tricky and full of pain. This made all of us fall into a trauma.

Soon doctors suggested about cord blood collection in which stem cells from a new born kid of same parents is being taken to treat their already existing child. It was a relief for all of us and soon my friend gave birth to another child whose cord blood was taken to treat the ill child. Now both of these kids are well, fit and fine and as elders we have decided to do cord blood collection for every new child born in our house.

Cord blood bank was a great help for me

When doctors told us about life taking ailment with which our three old son, John was suffering we felt as if this is the end. We were completely shattered while going to oncologist. The oncologist however told us about cord blood bank system at Cyro cell.

This was something totally new for us, but Cyro cell told us everything about cord blood bank and its benefits. They told us that using cord blood cells is a new way of treating severe ailments in kids with the help of stem cells of siblings from same parents. We then realized easiness of this phenomenon. Now our is fit and we have got registered the stem cells of our second child in Cyro cord blood bank as I believe that they will preserve it completely.

Doctors suggested us to compare cord blood banks systems in order to preserve our kid’s stem cells in best possible way. After full research we decided to go at Cyro cell which is considered as the finest bank to preserve child’s stem cells.

The Cyro cell also helped us to compare cord blood banks cost between private and public entities which helped us out in making the most effective decision. Due to versatile efforts and strong support from Cyro cell we are now able to store our child’s cord blood cells at best possible place so that it can be kept secured.

When John, my two year old son fell ill, doctors told me about baby cord blood banking mechanism. They told me that stem cells of new born are preserved under this mechanism as they are great for making the immune systems strong.

I then decided to go for baby cord blood banking system provided by Cyro cell. I can now confidently say that I made the right decision.

My nearby doctor Mr. Mathew suggested me to go for private cord blood banking system in order to protect my kids from future ailments. He told me that Cyro cell is one such place which helps in carrying out this mechanism so that children can be saved from harmful ailments such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell and severe anemia.

After some time, my elder son Mac got ill due to lymphoma. During this time Cyro cell helped us out in saving our child’s life. Thanks to Cyro cell!

Preserving the Cord blood is a wise step

Cord blood has captivated the attention of medical research all over the world. More and more research has been devoted on the significance of cord blood.

When a new child is born, normally the umbilical cord and placenta are usually discarded but they retain blood what is known as placental blood or cord blood.

Medical research has revealed that cord blood contains valuable stem cells, which naturally produce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets within the blood. These cells are instrumental to our blood and immune systems.

Stem cell therapy has helped people get back their lives. It has been key to curing some of the otherwise incurable diseases. Stem cell content in the cord blood after a baby’s birth is a vital resource for the future treatment of the child. So cord blood collection and its preservation is a step that can in future give a fresh whiff of life to many suffering souls.

Cord Blood Banks have been rendering service to mankind in the realm of health. The blood banks have helped people worldwide to preserve their new-borns’ umbilical cord blood for potential use against a number of probable diseases.

The blood banks have been receiving cord blood donation from the people of different nationalities. People have been encouraged to donate cord blood so that the future of their kids can be secured and they won't suffer from any incurable diseases. Blood Banks have been investing lot of money in research to find ways to preserve stem cells in a superior way. People can preserve their newborn's cord blood for future treatment. The process is quite simple.

Cord blood stem cells are extracted which results in literally no pain or any other risk for the mother or the child. These stem cells have lot of medical values for future treatment.

Saving precious lives

Life is fraught with diseases. Some are common while some can be life threatening. However with the advances made in medical science now it is possible to cure quite a good number of life threatening diseases with innovative ways. One such innovative breakthrough is the baby cord blood banking through which almost 70 diseases can be cured.

A cord blood bank is a place where a baby’s stem cells is stored which can be used later to treat many diseases that can’t be cured in the normal way. The stem cell of a baby is collected at the time of birth and the same is stored for a long time. Parents whose child is suffering from incurable diseases like blood cancer, thalassemia etc can now hope for a cure with bone marrow transplant through cord blood transplant. The success rate according to medical professionals is quite satisfactory and this has encouraged more and more people to come for this treatment.

Collection of stem cells poses no risk for the mother and the baby and is also painless. Usually just a month before the date of delivery a collection kit is provided. This kit comprises a phlebotomy kit and a collection bag. Parents have to take this kit to the hospital and give it to the health care provider. After the baby is delivered which can be either through vaginal or caesarian delivery the cord is cut and the blood of the cord is drained into the collection bag. On completion of the process the respective stem cell bank will send its personnel to collect the kit. It is then sent for processing and storage.

However this process has to follow certain parameters. Processing of cord blood must be done within the first 72 hours after the baby is born. In some states like New York the stipulated processing time is 48 hours. During processing red blood cells and plasma is separated from the cord blood. After that the stem cells are stored in frozen condition at 196 C in liquid nitrogen. The preserved stem cells have no expiration date and can be stored for quite a long time.

The preserved stem cells can be used in the future for treating diseases suffered by the baby or his/her family members with matching blood group. Stem cells are thawed before being used for treatment.

Cord blood stem cells facilitate both autoloqous (baby’s own cells) and allogenic (family member’s/unrelated donors cells) transplants. Diseases that are degenerative like cerebral palsy, stroke, Type 1 diabetes etc require an autoloqous transplant and genetically based diseases requires an allogenic transplant.

Cord Blood -- A Ray of Hope

Every year, around 18,000 Americans are diagnosed with conditions that would be helped by cord blood transplant. In other words, if somebody comes forward to donate cord blood, he or she will help others patients breathe a whiff of fresh air. He will give the patient a new lease of life. But 70% of these patients don't have related donor and must find one through the national registry.

The shortage of minority donors has forced national and local agencies to rev up efforts to expand programs that offer expecting women and couples a chance to donate a small blood sample extracted from the umbilical cord after birth for donation to cord blood banks.

All parents want a healthy baby. They may go to any extent to protect and secure the health of the new born. Medical science has also achieved a lot on how to protect the health of the babies. Latest researches on medical science have made it amply clear that creating a secure and healthy environment for the new-born should start from the moment of conception. In the study of stem cell therapy some new facts have come to light. The researchers have found that stem cells can also be affected by toxic materials that exist in the environment.

Dr. Sandra Steingraber in her acclaimed book having Faith, an Ecologist’s Journey to Motherhood wrote: “Of all of the members of a human population, fetuses are the most vulnerable to toxic harm.”

A study on cord blood cells by the U.S. Environmental Working Group (EWG) found hundreds of industrial chemicals in the blood of 10 babies.

According to the study, out of the 287 chemicals detected by the team in umbilical cord blood, they came to know that 180 caused cancer in humans or animals, 217 were toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 caused birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. It is essential to ensure a safe environment for the mother to get toxic free cord blood of the baby.

Enormous Possibilities in Stem Cells

Stem cells are those cells that are capable of transforming into different types of cells that are present in our body. Until recently, bone marrow was the preferred source of obtaining these cells. But breakthroughs in the medical field have given us a new source of these ‘all important’ cells. This, relatively easy to explore source, is the umbilical cord blood banking. This blood is a major source of stem cells that are capable of turning into full-grown blood cells.

As such umbilical cord blood stem cells can be used in the treatment of many life-threatening diseases like leukemia and Alzheimer’s. These cells are capable of repairing the damaged cells in various parts of the body, even the most sensitive one- the brain. Various immune system related diseases and the diseases pertaining to the metabolic system are also curable in this fashion. Apart from that they also have the potential of regeneration of muscles that get damaged by one disease or the other. Actually, in the category of stem cells, the embryonic stem cells are given preference over umbilical stem cells because the latter are often termed as adult stem cells and hence are not considered much effective.

Now the scientific thought has underwent a sea change as regards the efficacy of umbilical cord blood collection. There is another benefit involved also and that being an end to debate over ethical issues involved in embryonic stem cells. The baby is not at all harmed and there is absolutely no question of ‘killing’ of any human life.

Because there is no awareness regarding the umbilical cord blood storage, many a time a person has to use the stem cells obtained from other person. These are not much effective and are often rejected by the recipient body. Only if a person has got his cord blood stored in such blood banks, can he be sure of getting his own stem cells for treatment. There is a need for great understanding and awareness in this regard as this ‘hot’ area of stem cell research has caught the fancy of some scientists as well as patients in the recent past. The track record of umbilical cord cells is very good as far as the success of the treatment is concerned. It is in no way inferior to that of embryonic stem cells – some specialists say it’s even better. The world medical fraternity is now moving towards this enormous possibility for the benefit of mankind.