| Welcome Expectant Families : Saving Cord Blood |
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"It's amazing to think that when a baby is born…a new life comes into the world along with a chance to save other lives."
(Theresa LaRue, Mother of Blayke and Garret LaRue, were both saved from a rare immune system disease because of cord blood stem cell transplants. Source: Current Science, September 14, 2001). There exists only one chance in a lifetime to collect and preserve your baby's umbilical cord blood (also called cord or placental blood). This irreplaceable source of stem cells will help preserve the cleanest, most natural form of cellular health for the rest of your child's life. If not collected at birth and preserved, this unique opportunity will be lost.
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"I love stem cells. I mean, they saved my life, If it weren't for them…I probably wouldn't be here today"
(Keone Penn, June 5, 2002)
(Keone Penn suffers from a case of sickle cell anemia, a painful genetic blood disease. He was diagnosed when he was 6 months old. He was 5 when his sickle cell caused a stroke.
(Featured on CBS 60 minutes II, June 5, 2002.).
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What Are Cord Blood And Stem Cells? |
Cord blood refers to the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and in the placenta after it is separated from the newborn following childbirth. Typically, the umbilical cord and placenta (also known as the afterbirth) are discarded after a child is born. The blood found in these organs is rich in a special cell type called stem cells. Not only do stem cells have the ability to generate all types of blood cells, but they can be used to treat a variety of life-threatening diseases, including leukemia, other cancers, blood and immune disorders and, more recently, sickle cell anemia.
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How Are Stem Cells Collected? |
| Stem cell collection is a surprisingly simple, painless and noninvasive process. It takes your obstetrician or midwife about five minutes to collect the sample once your baby is born, during the time spent waiting for the placenta to deliver. Samples are then taken from both the umbilical cord and the new mother. The cord blood collection kit contains everything your obstetrician or midwife needs. Collecting your baby's cord blood does not interfere in any way with the birthing process or the immediate post-partum bonding with your new baby.
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"Call it (cord blood storage) what you want; an insurance policy, a safety blanket, peace of mind --for us it's a "Birthday Gift" that really does last a lifetime. Storing our son's cord blood with Cord Partner's was an easy decision."
- Craig & Karen Irwin, valued Cord Partners' customers
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