Giving Cord Blood - The Gift Of Life?

Here's a news story of a New Jersey mom who decided to donate her baby's cord blood on 30 Sept 2006.

Why did she do it?

"…born Sept. 30, Jody Bartlett was the one who gave a gift.

It cost her nothing, yet it might just save a life.

The gift was the blood from her baby's umbilical cord, which is normally discarded after the delivery. Instead, Bartlett, a 40-year-old first-time mom from Marlboro, prearranged to have her obstetrician collect the blood so it could be donated to a New Jersey blood bank…"

So how does all this benefit us? Click here to find out

The article researcher estimated that every year, about 10,000 to 15,000 people can't find a suitable bone marrow match.

Perhaps the giving of cord blood could be a gift of a chance at life for others, that's relatively easy to give?

The cord blood donation movement seems to be catching on.

According to the news item, Community Blood Services, one of two New Jersey blood centers:

"has seen a 300 percent increase in cord blood donations, raising the total to more than 3,000 units. It recently opened a new, 15,000-square-foot storage facility in Allendale, which is now receiving more than 200 cord blood donations per month…"

If we increase cord blood cell donation, perhaps we will help others waiting for cord blood transplants more so than we have done before…

News Story from:

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/LIFE11/611280329/1006