Maimonides Medical Center
Brooklyn, NY Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, Inc.
(561) 982-2900
www.giftoflife.org

North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Systems
Manhasset, NY New York Blood Center

http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/

Long Island Jewish Medical Center
New Hyde Park, NY New York Blood Center

http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/

Brooklyn Hospital
New York, NY New York Blood Center

http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/

Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
New York, NY New York Blood Center

http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/

Mt. Sinai Hospital
New York, NY New York Blood Center

http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/

New York Presbyterian Hospital
New York, NY New York Blood Center

http://www.nationalcordbloodprogram.org/

Long Beach Memorial Center
Long Beach, CA StemCyte International Cord Blood Center

http://www.stemcyte.com

White Memorial Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA StemCyte International Cord Blood Center

http://www.stemcyte.com

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Oakland, CA StemCyte International Cord Blood Center

http://www.stemcyte.com

St. Joseph’s Hospital of Orange
Orange, CA Children’s Hospital of Orange County
(714) 516-4335

http://www.choc.org/services

Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Torrance, CA StemCyte International Cord Blood Center

LifeShare partnered with Women’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, where 14% of all Louisiana babies are born, in 2008 for the pilot program. Umbilical cords contain stem cells that can be used in transplants to treat more than 70 diseases, many of them cancers and blood disorders.

Since June, LifeShare has collected 154 cord blood units. Besides promoting the cord blood bank, LifeShare will try to increase awareness about its role in recruiting bone marrow donors this year.

Africans have more genetic diversity than any other ethnic group. The NMDP estimates that even if the number of African-Americans in the United States who registered as adult donors were doubled or tripled, they still could not match all the African-American patients. Another group which is not well represented in the registry of adult donors is multi-racial Americans, most of whom are not yet adults.

Cord blood holds hope for all patients with hard-to-match HLA types, because cord blood transplants only require a 4/6 match, not a perfect match.

Cord blood is rich in stem cells and is already being used to treat many different diseases including leukemia and sickle cell anemia to name a few. Umbilical cord blood can be extracted in a simple, safe procedure from the umbilical cord after birth, but currently most of this precious resource is discarded.

“I encourage people to learn more about cord blood donation and for expectant mothers to consider donating umbilical cord blood after the birth of their child. The birth of a child is a wonderful gift, and a donation of cord blood could help transform the lives of those who could benefit from the extracted stem cells,” said the Most Reverend Peter Smith, Archbishop of Cardiff.

A Cord blood transplant carries with it as much risk as a bone marrow or peripheral blood transplant. The risk of infection may be higher after a cord blood transplant because of the longer time to graft. The chances of developing Graft Versus Host Disease is low, but the risk is still there. As every patient’s Case History is different from others, if you are considering Umbilical Cord Blood Transplant for the cure of an illness then you should consult the medical experts in this field before making any decisions.

If the bill becomes law, the state Department of Health and Human Services would place documents on its Web site that would help a pregnant woman decide whether to donate her baby’s cord blood to a public bank or have it stored in case her child or another family member will need it. The information would be put in a format that can be easily printed and distributed to expectant mothers.

Umbilical cord blood has stem cells, which can be converted to a number of important medical uses. According to representatives from the Cord Blood Bank at Duke University, the cells can be transplanted into the bone marrow of some medical patients, such as cancer patients. The Carolinas Cord Blood Bank is a public cord blood bank, making its supplies available to patients nationwide.

Consider discussing the donation of your cord blood with your obstetrician. A small procedure could save thousands of lives, possibly even your own or your child’s in the future. To donate cord blood you will need to be at least 36 weeks into your pregnancy and not have a multiple pregnancy (e.g. twins).

You must check if the hospital or birth centre you have chosen to deliver your baby participates in an umbilical cord blood donation or cord blood storage program. If you wish to consider being a cord blood donor you will need to make this decision well in advance of your expected date for delivery.

Why is this gift so special? Stem cells from the umbilical cord blood are known to treat over 80 diseases.  They have now been used in over 10,000 transplants worldwide and research is continually expanding.  Who knows what medical miracles these stem cells could help achieve in the future!

* Trash it. This is what usually happens. What a waste.
* Store it for possible use by you, your child or a member of your family.
* Donate it for public storage so that it can be used for research or to treat or save the life of an unrelated person.

Cord blood contains hematopoietic (blood-forming) cells. According to the National Marrow Donor Program, “Each year thousands of patients are diagnosed with life-threatening diseases that can be treated by rebuilding the patient’s hematopoietic (blood cell producing) system with blood-forming cells. Umbilical cord blood is being studied as one of the sources of blood cells.” So why throw cord blood away when it can be put to good use treating life-threating disease? Consider,

• Donating cord blood is medically safe. The cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord after your baby is born.
• Donation does not change the birth process.
• Donating cord blood is free to you and completely confidential.

Here’s how to get started:

–> Learn more about cord blood donation. The NMDP has tons of information including a FAQ, eligibility guidelines, participating cord blood banks and hospitals and more.

–> Register to donate between your 28th and 35th week of pregnancy.

Some expectant families may be considering storage for private use.  We have a quiz that can help you make the choice between private storage and public storage (donation).

Think about it. Talk about it with your partner. Pray about it. And consider what a blessing your child’s birth can be to some other mother’s child. Regardless of your decision, remember that there are many ways you can donate life.

Learn about cord blood harvesting >>