| When a baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut, the | | | | blood are very easy to collect and transplant, and it is |
| blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta is usually | | | | not painful to administer. Moreover, it is not difficult |
| discarded as medical waste. Not any more, as such | | | | to find a family member that can provide a match. |
| blood has been found to be a very important and | | | | And the greatest thing of all is that umbilical cord |
| rich source of stem cells, and stem cells is mankind's | | | | blood is almost always free of any contamination or |
| latest hope in its battle against age-old fatal diseases. | | | | infection. |
| Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that eventually | | | | Stem cell transplants can save lives of people with |
| become the different types of blood cells. And as of | | | | serious diseases, such as leukemia (cancer of the |
| today, about 70 medical disorders have been treated | | | | white blood cells) and other cancers, or those with |
| with such cells, specifically those taken from the | | | | serious blood disorders (aplastic anemia). Recently, it |
| umbilical cord. Such cells are very important in the | | | | has been found that such cells taken from cord blood |
| treatment of, say, leukemia, or cancer of the blood. | | | | can also be used in the treatment of brain injury, |
| When patients undergo radiation therapy or | | | | cerebral palsy, type 1 diabetes, and heart disorders. |
| chemotherapy, their stock stem cells are destroyed, | | | | Because of its obvious importance, umbilical cord |
| leaving them in a very vulnerable, almost deadly | | | | blood and its storage in an established cord blood |
| condition. Traditionally, they receive transplant from a | | | | bank upon the birth of a baby is becoming a hot |
| donor via bone marrow transplant or direct normal | | | | issue. The good thing is that parents nowadays have |
| blood transfusion. These two sources of stem cells | | | | this risk-free choice. |
| are fraught with pain and side-effects, and it is tricky | | | | For more information regarding how storing cord |
| to find a donor match. | | | | blood can protect you and your child's future, check |
| On the other hand, stem cells from umbilical cord | | | | out umbilical cord blood. |