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Published: May 29, 2007
“It really is a miracle”
California firm sponsors national campaign to preserve umbilical cord blood
The Cord Blood Registry, a blood bank in San Bruno, has launched a nationwide campaign to increase public awareness of cord-blood preservation -- a practice that can bolster ethical stem-cell research and help expectant parents provide for their child's future well-being.
 Unlike embryonic stem cells, which have as yet no human therapeutic applications, stem cells obtained from the umbilical cord and other human tissues are used in more than 60 forms of successful treatment. However, every year in the U.S., about 15,000 people need a stem-cell transplant but cannot find a suitable donor match.
The solution is the collection and storage of umbilical-cord blood that can be used later. These cells provide treatments for many diseases and find universal ethical acceptance.
Collecting cord blood takes only a few minutes, and is painless and risk-free to both the baby or mother.
At its web site, the Cord Blood Registry defines its corporate mission as "giving families hope for longer, healthier lives. We see a day when saving cord blood stem cells will be a routine practice and stem cell therapy will be the first line treatment for many of today's incurable diseases and injuries."
“The goal of this campaign is to help expectant parents better understand the significance of banking cord-blood stem cells by introducing them to families who already do,” said Stephen Grant, executive vice president and co-founder of Cord Blood Registry, in a statement to the press.
Prior to the baby's delivery, parents at present can opt to preserve cord blood stem cells with a family bank or donate them to a public bank.
According to the National Marrow Donor Program, the number of transplants using cord blood as a source of stem cells to treat serious diseases such as leukemia and aplastic anemia will surpass those using bone marrow later this year.
A two-year-old boy recently received a transplant of his own cord blood stem cells to treat his diabetes. According to Michael Haller, assistant professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Florida, this marks the first time the Cord Blood Registry has supplied a sample for treatment of diabetes type 1.
According to the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, embryonic stem cells -- which are derived from living human embryos who are killed in the process of extraction -- do not reverse diabetes; instead, they form tumors.
Says Dr. Alan DeCherney, of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA -- quoted at the Cord Blood Registry web site -- "The window of opportunity for cord blood collection is so limited and the potential for use of the cells so great that we have an obligation to counsel patients about this unique medical resource."
"I banked my baby's cord blood because I couldn't let the opportunity pass," explained Megan Burrell Jensen of Duarte in a Cord Blood Registry newsletter. "I work for a cancer center where cord blood transplants save lives. It really is a miracle."
Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2007 11:02 AM By ELIZABETH
AWESOME!!!!
NOW ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IS MORE MEDIA COVERAGE, SO THAT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN 'BRAINWASHED' WILL GET THE MESSAGE.
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Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2007 2:47 PM By Paul Tarsus
Umbilical-cord blood preservation is the only way to go that not only works, but is morally and ethically acceptable and both painless and risk free to the mother or the baby. Why medical science would even want to explore, let alone carry out embryonic stem cell research that have no proven therapuetic use or value derived from living human embryos who are killed in the process of extraction creating a moral quagmire that makes absolutely no human logic or sense. But then again, those promoting the culture of death make no sense and always completely contradict themselves in exactly what it is they are trying to achieve. The culture of death is a walking and talking contradiction! If those in the media were truly doing their job well and telling both sides of a story on major moral issues with the same clearness, intensity and truth, they would be telling the people of America the tremendous good and benefits that umbilical-cord blood preservation would have for the people of America. Surely a good news story this important and of such great significance and value needs to be talked about by the media, not kept a secret! Only the truth will set America free!
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Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2007 6:41 PM By janet
This has been around for quite some time. I know my daughter learned of it when taking Lamaze birthing classes during her pregnancy. It's a fantastic idea BUT the problem for most is the cost. $1975 - Total Initial Fee plus $125/yr storage fee. Few young families can afford it.
(http://www.cordblood.com/cord_blood_banking_with_cbr/pricing_domestic.asp)
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Posted Sunday, June 03, 2007 10:38 AM By Bob Terry
California is very confusing. Its governor just made a speech in Toronto avowing his continuing support for embryonic stem cell research and is backing this up with $100's of million in State aid. Does he not have access to articles like this?
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Posted Friday, June 15, 2007 1:46 PM By Monaco, Goiвnia
I am Lucy, I have found your website while searching for some info at Google. Your site has helped me in a big way.
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