A brochure providing research information about donating/storing umbilical cords so that the stem cells within can be used in later years to fight and treat many health conditions and diseases.

1. 1
Be A Cord-Blood CORD-BLOOD STEM
Donor For CELLS AND DISEASES
More Information
“Storing your baby’s life-saving cord-blood stem
cells provides you with peace of mind and a  Cord Blood Registry
powerful medical resource used to treat many Mail to: Cord Blood registry
severe illnesses for your child and your loved 1200 Bayhill Drive, Suite 301
ones,” from the Cord-Blood Registry. San Bruno, CA. 94066
Phone: 1-888-932-6568
Umbilical Cord-Blood Stem Cells – these cells, International callers: (650) 635-1420
collected from the umbilical cord when a child is Monday-Friday (6 a.m. – 9 p.m. PST)
born, can generate all of the blood cells in the Saturday (7 a.m. – 4 p.m. PST)
body. We can now use this kind of blood to treat A 24 hour emergency hotline is available for
people who need chemotherapy to kill their bone clients. Photo
marrow due to, but not limited to, diseases like Fax: 1-800-844-2202 1 provided by Cord-Blood Registry
cancer and leukemia. Online: http://www.cordblood.com/index.asp
According to the National Institutes of Health
These wonderful cells work in similarity to a (NIH), having the ability to study stem cells gives
repair system for the body. Theoretically, they can  National Marrow Donor Program us the capacity to learn how they change into the
divide infinitely to replace other cells in any living Mail to: National Marrow Donor Program magnificent cells that have made us who we are;
body; human or animal. A stem cell will divide Suite 500 or the diseased cells which create medical
and then either remain a stem cell, or take identity 3001 Broadway Street Northeast conditions (i.e. cancer, birth defects) that appear
of another specialized cell (i.e. muscle cell). Minneapolis, MN 55413-1753 during the time these cells are developed. A better
Phone: In the U.S. and Canada call toll free: knowledge of why this happens can help us
General Information: 1-800-627-7692 attempt to change the process of damaged cells
Office of Patient Advocacy: (888) 999-6743 that cause such diseases and conditions.
Outside the United States: Another exciting discovery is the ability to use
stem cells and tissues for medical therapies. We
General Information: (612) 627-5800 now have the skills and capabilities to replace
Office of Patient Advocacy: (612) 627-8140 damaged and diseased organs and tissues with
Online: http://www.marrow.org/index.html healthy ones that are donated. The problem we
face is not having a supply of donated organs to
meet the demands of people needing transplants.
 National Institutes of Health
Mail to: National Institutes of Health Stem cells give us an ultimatum for treating
9000 Rockville Pike numerable diseases, conditions, and disabilities.
Bethesda, MD. 20892 Among the list of diseases are Parkinson’s and
Photo 2 provided by the National Institutes of Phone: (301) 496-4000 Alzheimer’s. Other conditions include spinal cord
Health (NIH) TTY (301) 402-9612 injury, heart disease, and diabetes.
Online: http://stemcells.nih.gov/

2. 2
Facts and Info How to Donate Cord-Blood Donation
If you are 18 years of age (16 in some states), in
& Private Storage
fairly good health, and reside in a community
where cord-blood donation is available, you may
be able to donate your baby’s cord-blood; or you Cord-Blood Donation –
may look for participating hospitals near you. when you donate your
Cord-blood donation is still in its experimental baby’s umbilical cord-
stages and growing rapidly. Because of this, not blood:
all hospitals are prepared to receive a donation at
this time. 1) It’s made
available to
By approximately your 34th week of pregnancy, any patient
contact a cord-blood bank. The blood bank will who needs a
Photo 3 provided by Cord-Blood Registry transplant.
ask you to:
1) Fill out a consent form agreeing to 2) If it doesn’t meet the criteria for
There are two options for saving the baby’s cord- transplant, the baby’s cord-blood is
blood: donate your baby’s cord-blood.
2) Fill out a health history form to then used for research to find new
1) Family Bank – which saves the cord- ways in which the blood can be used
blood only for your baby and family confirm you meet health eligibility
guidelines. to help people.
to use. 3) It’s not reserved only for the use of
3) Give a small blood sample for
2) Public Bank – which saves the infectious disease testing. your family and your child.
baby’s cord-blood for public use
(non-related individuals). These steps are usually completed before the birth Cord-blood donation is free! All expenses for the
of the baby. When the baby is born, the umbilical collecting, processing, and storing of the baby’s
There are many reasons why a family may wish to cord-blood is collected, processed and stored for cord-blood is covered by the Cord-blood Bank.
save their baby’s cord-blood. If you are thinking future use.
of adopting a newborn, saving the baby’s cord- Cord-Blood Private Storage – Private cord-
blood is the child’s only genetic link to help fight banks will store your baby’s umbilical cord-blood
any diseases that may develop from the family only for your family’s own use. When a mother
history. Another good reason would be for chooses to store her baby’s cord-blood only for
couples who conceive through In-Vitro the use of her baby and family, then the Cord-
Fertilization. In this case, the cord-blood may be Blood Bank may charge you the fees for
the couple’s only chance for having genetic stem collecting, processing, and storing the cord-blood.
cells to help that child with any future treatments.
A third reason is that collecting the baby’s cord- Before donating your baby’s cord-blood, make
blood is vitally important to a family with a sure you understand the difference between these
history of life-threatening diseases. The stem cells two options that you have.
collected gives them a way to fight back if the
child develops any of the diseases that have been *Photo 5 provided by Cord-Blood Registry;
handed down genetically. Information provided by the National Marrow
Photo 4 provided by Sherri Gonyea; Info by Donor Program (NMDP).
NMDP