A new medical practice seems to be taking hold. Embryonic stem cells, harvested from the umbilical cord, are being used to fight cancer and a host of other medical issues. The problem is that the cord blood banks are private and are very expensive. It turns out that we'd be paying hundreds to thousands just to initially deposit our stem cells, and then monthly fees to keep them in cryo. till/if we needed them. Last week, however, we found out that we can deposit them for free at a community bank through the hospital. The catch? They're not our cells once we deposit them, and they can be used by us, or used up by anyone else who needs them before we need them. Not really much of a catch is it? The thought of some poor dying child getting a new shot at life from my baby's cord blood cells hardly seems like a down side to me, especially since the chances of us ever needing them are so remote. I thought this was worth posting in case anyone else out there is having a baby. Talk to your hospital about donating cord blood cells. It seems like a truly worthwhile cause.
1 comment:
Just never forget that when a daddy watches his child, it's never babysitting - it's parenting. And while it is tough to take care of a baby after a long day of work, it is rewarding and all in a day's work as a parent :D.
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