Cord Blood Donation: Turning an Umbilical Cord into a Lifeline
(Info Courtesy: The National Children's Cancer Society
1015 Locust, Ste 600
St. Louis, MO 63101)

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How a newborn baby can help save a life through Cord Blood Donation ?

During pregnancy, a baby's umbilical cord is  a lifeline between mother and child. After birth, thanks to an incredible medical breakthrough - the umbilical cord can become a lifeline to a child or adult with certain deadly diseases.

The Problem
Every year, some 9000 people are diagnosed with deadly blood-borne diseases such as leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and other cancers, along with genetic diseases such as sickle-cell anemia, aplastic anemia and Fanconi anemia.

Treatment usually requires chemotherapy, radiation therapy or other procedures, which wipes out a patient's stem cells. Stem cells are essential building blocks of healthy blood. Stem cells replenish our supply of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. Obviously we can not live without them.

Stem cells must be quickly replaced for the patient to survive. However, the standard procedure-bone marrow transplantation-can be uncomfortable and expensive. There are also side effects and a high percentage of patient rejection of the bone marrow. Only 30% of the patients needing a stem cell transplant find a donor within their family.

The Solution
There is an alternative source besides bone marrow for stem cells: a newborn baby's umbilical cord blood. 

The advantages of this rich source of stem cells are many. To start with, tissue matches don't need to be as close with cord blood as with a bone marrow donor, so matches are easier to find. Furthermore, no surgery is necessary for the donor, saving time, money and discomfort.

And finally, there are 10000 potential donors born each day- the number of births just in United States!

Any one of them may become a lifeline to another child or adult with a deadly disease. Its part of an effective new alternative to bone marrow transplantation which is also far less costly.

The Procedure
Immediately after birth, the umbilical cord, which is normally discarded, is used to draw placental blood, which is rich in vital stem cells.

This blood is then sent to a cord blood bank where it is typed, frozen and stored. When needed to help save a life, it can be shipped anywhere in the world.

The procedure is virtually painless for the donor, and does not interfere with the normal delivery process. There  is no cost to the donating families, whose identities are kept confidential.

Most important, in the process of bringing a new life into the world, donors may help save the life of another person!

For More Information
Families considering donating cord blood should speak with their doctor as early in the pregnancy as possible. If you or someone you know would like to become a lifeline to another person-or if you know someone with a deadly disease who needs that lifeline-contact the national Marrow Donor Program at 1-800-526-7809 or visit their website at www.marrow.org

(Info Courtesy: The National Children's Cancer Society
1015 Locust, Ste 600 St. Louis, MO 63101)

Click here if you would like to Contribute.
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