The naive blood cells are able to change, which increases their potential for developing cures. This seems to be one of the reasons what makes the new mothers to donate the umbilical cords and placentas as the potential source of the stem cell. Western countries are becoming more open to the idea of cord blood banking. We can see some cord blood banks in England too.

So far, Kings College Hospital in London is the only place where cord blood can be donated.The hospital’s maternity ward has been collecting for the cord blood bank since last Christmas. The another cord blood bank is the The Nolan Trust Cord Blood bank in Nottingham. The bank is hoping to raise £27 million over the next five years in order to collect a total of 50,000 cord blood units.

All mothers must give their consent before the placenta and umbilical cords can be used. We can take the case of Sarah Dawson who gave her gave birth to her baby boy Aidan on the ward and decided to become a donor. In her words,

“It’s painless. There’s no risk to the baby or the mother and it’s lovely to know that you could be saving someone’s life.”

The cord blood banks are a blessings for those who opt to it, for treatment. We can remember the case of Eva. This four-year-old leukaemia patient is saved by the cord blood transfusion. The Anthony Nolan Trust hopes its new initiative will help save thousands more lives.

Source: Sky News