Consequently, more and more people are turning to stem cell storage facilities such as Cryo-Save, a private family stem cell storage bank, to store the umbilical cord blood stem cells of babies at birth for potentially life-saving future treatments. Stem cell storage is fast becoming an important option for helping to ensure the future good health of your baby and your family.
Earlier this month a study published in the journal, JAMA Neurology found that most of the multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, who took part in a cutting-edge stem cell study called HALT-MS, are still in remission year's later. The study has demonstrated impressive results by rebuilding patients' immune systems using their own peripheral blood stem cells. Researchers found that 86% of the patients who received stem cell transplants between 2006 and 2010 as part of the trial, have remained relapse free after three years and nearly 91% showed no sign of disease progression. This is but one example of a potential stem cell treatment study.
According to The New York Times, as many as 4,500 clinical trials involving stem cells are currently underway in the US alone, to treat patients with heart disease, blindness, Parkinson's, HIV, diabetes, blood cancers and spinal cord injuries, among other conditions. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for parents to consider storing their baby's umbilical cord blood stem cells.
At birth, the baby's umbilical cord is filled with millions of precious stem cells. These cells are young and untainted, making cord blood stem cells the purest form of non-embryonic stem cells available today. These cells, which are a perfect match for your baby, provide an option for treating diseases for which a stem cell transplant is indicated, such as bone marrow failure or leukaemia. They will also have an excellent chance (1:4) of being a match for a sibling (brother or sister). Worldwide, more than 30,000 allogeneic cord blood transplants have been performed to date.
Storing your child's umbilical cord has a multitude of potential benefits. At birth, the surplus blood, which remains in the umbilical cord, can be saved for potential treatments. The umbilical cord tissue itself contains another unique type of stem cell. These remarkable cells have the potential to repair damaged tissues such as cartilage, bone, muscle or nerves. Research into these new applications is ongoing and the future holds many exciting possibilities.
Collecting your baby's stem cells at birth is completely non-invasive and does not interfere with your birthing plan at all. Your umbilical cord stem cells will be processed and cryogenically stored at ultra-low temperatures of below 190 degrees and cryopreservation lasts for over 20 years. The sample is immediately available if transplantation is requested for one of the diseases currently being treated with stem cells.
Rather than just discarding umbilical cord blood, more parents worldwide are choosing to store their baby's stem cells to be prepared for unforeseen health challenges. Should a child or a sibling develop a blood disorder that can be treated by stem cell transplantation there may be difficulty finding a matched unrelated donor. If umbilical cord blood stem cells have been preserved at birth, it will provide an option for using this source of stem cells for the transplant.
Becoming a parent is already very expensive and not all parents have the financial means to immediately meet the costs involved. The company has developed flexible payment options to make this once in a lifetime opportunity more affordable and to allow parents to save their children's precious stem cells as an insurance policy for their future health.
For more information, go to www.cryo-save.co.za.
