Cord blood stem cell transplants have already changed—and saved—thousands of lives around the world. They have already been used to treat more than 70 diseases, including numerous types of malignancies, anemia's, inherited metabolic disorders and deficiencies of the immune system.
New medical technology may well use these cells to rebuild cardiac tissue, repair damage due to stroke or spinal cord injuries and reverse the effects of such diseases as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s. While the research is still in its early stages, the possibilities are extremely promising. And, banking your child’s stem cells increases access to any of these technologies in the future.
Stem Cell Transplant May Be Near for Shawnee Girl
1/20/2009
Tallie Anderson, 11, of Shawnee Oklahoma has spend much of the past two years of
her life at the OU Medical Center since being diagnosed with aplastic anemia almost
two years ago. In need of a bone marrow transplant, Tallie had not been able to
find a match with a bone marrow donor quickly, which is a problem for many people
of American Indian descent, like her. From this obstacle Tallie and the Oklahoma
Blood Institute launched a public awareness campaign to make people aware of the
need for American Indian marrow donors. Hundreds of Oklahomans responded to assist.
However, Tallie’s match finally came in November but in the form of a donated
umbilical cord. The 11 year old is now awaiting a stem cell transplant
from the stem cell rich cord blood.
Read more…
Stem Cell Hope for Blind Toddler
1/29/2009
The family of a toddler who was born blind are hoping a course of cutting-edge stem
cell therapy in China could let some light into his life. Sixteen-month-old Joshua
Clark, from Caernarfon, Gwynedd, was born with optic nerve hypoplasia and his parents
were told no treatment was available. Joanna and Anthony Clark found the Chinese
stem cell therapy option after doing research via the internet. The family will
fly to China at the end of April and will spend five weeks accompanied by various
relatives at different times while Joshua undergoes treatment with umbilical cord
stem cells.
Read more…
Stem Cells Give Leukemia Patient a Second Chance
1/14/2009
Melbourn resident Grahm Barnell took the chance of his life and travelled to Seattle
to become the eighth person in the world to undergo a pioneering stem cell transplant
technique that uses stem cells grown in a laboratory from a donated umbilical cord
to regenerate bone marrow. After a two-year odyssey through the darkest ravages
of the rare and deadly form of myeloid leukemia, Mr Barnell is apparently cured,
thanks to a revolutionary stem cell procedure only now emerging in the US
Keep reading >
Young Leukemia Patient Cancer-Free After Receiving Stem Cells From ...
1/12/2009
A two-year-old child from Florida is free of signs of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia,
a rare form of pediatric leukemia, after receiving a stem cell trasplant from umbilical
cord blood. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia generally affects children under the
age of five and comprises less than 1 percent of infant leukemias. Adolfo Gonzalez
was diagnosed with JMML when he was 13 months old. "Adolfo Gonzalez would most
likely not be alive today if it weren't for the cord blood transplant," Dr.
Gary Kleiner, a pediatric immunologist at the University of Miami School of Medicine,
said in a statement. "The mother who donated her cord blood to the public cord
blood bank at New York's National Cord Blood Program basically saved his life."
Keep reading
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ALS Patient Travels to Mexico for Stem Cell Treatment
12/27/2008
So far, Lou Gehrig’s disease has not stopped Kerry Alvarado from trying to enjoy
life. However, the 52-year-old ALS patient has decided to take one more step in
her quest to beat the disease she has been forced to live with. Kerry has been travelling
to Mexico to undergo stem cell treatment. Doctors and stem cell researchers are
hoping they can successfully transform umbilical cord blood stem cells into healthy
spinal cord cells and neural cells that will replace damaged cells throughout Kerry’s
body. The stem cell transplant in Mexico will ultimately allow Kerry and her family
to enjoy the rest of her life.
Keep reading >
Child’s Stem Cell
Recovery Deemed “A Miracle”
December 26, 2008
For the first years of his life, Adolfo Gonzalez suffered greatly as a result of
a rare form of childhood cancer. After receiving two trial stem cell treatment procedures,
there are no more leukemia cells in Adolfo’s body, and he can finally live a normal
life. The stem cells taken from umbilical cord blood successfully grew in Adolfo’s
own bone marrow and replaced all cancerous white blood cells. Doctors are calling
the boy’s recovery “a miracle”, all thanks to umbilical cord blood stem cells.
Read More >
Legally Blind Child Undergoes Stem Cell Transplant in China
12/26/2008
Xavier Carballo, a five-year-old boy diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia at the
age of two, can finally read printed books. For the first part of his life, Xavier
was legally blind. After receiving a series of stem cell transplants in China, he
can now see. Xavier has undergone six successful umbilical cord blood transfusions,
his parents say they noticed improvements following the very first stem cell treatment
session. Xavier’s doctors in China recently commented that the umbilical cord blood
transplants have led to “definite and measurable improvements”, and the boy’s health
will continue to improve for months following the treatments.
Keep reading >
Mother and Daughter Travel to Thailand for Stem Cell Transplantation
12/26/2008
For the majority of her young life, Bailey Walker has suffered from optic nerve
hypoplasia, a disorder that has left her legally blind. To treat this congenital
condition, Bailey’s parents have decided to take her to Thailand to undergo a stem
cell treatment that will hopefully allow her to see. Next May, Bailey will receive
a month-long series of umbilical cord blood transplants that will replace damaged
cells in her spinal cord. Bailey’s parents show no hesitation or qualms about making
the trip to Thailand, as the promise of this procedure gives them hope for a normal
life for their beautiful daughter.
Keep reading >
Stem Cell Transplant in China Gives Hope to 21-Month Old
12/22/2008
After undergoing an umbilical cord blood stem cell transplant in China, 21-month
old Luke Pickett is happily back with his family in the United States. The stem
cells were injected into Luke’s spinal cord in an effort to combat spastic quadriplegic
cerebral palsy. Thanks to the donated umbilical cord blood, Luke’s family has noticed
dramatic changes in his gross motor skills since his return from China. Doctors
and researchers hope that stem cell transplants can be used to treat cerebral palsy
in the United States in the near future.
Keep reading >
Four-year Old Receives Life Saving Stem Cell Treatment
12/14/2008
Brandon Meike, a four-year old boy suffering from spinal muscular atrophy, can now
stand with his feet flat on the floor thanks to a recent stem cell treatment. Brandon
and his family travelled all the way to China to receive a series of four stem cell
injections and extensive physical therapy, the combination of which has opened doors
for stem cell research and treatments in the United States. Brandon’s stem cell
injections were taken from umbilical cord blood, and as a result, the four-year
old is experiencing incredible and lasting improvements.
Keep reading >
World’s first stem cell transplant patient: 'My murdered brother
...
12/10/2008
Daily Mail - UK Last week she was revealed to the world as the first person to receive
a whole transplant organ grown from her own stem cells. ...
Keep reading >
3-Year Old Seeks Stem Cell Transplantation to Cure Rare Skin Disorder
12/7/2008
For Payton Thorton, childhood has been a very different experience from what most
children live through at that age. Payton was born with recessive dystrophic EB,
a disease that affects 2 of every one million births, and as a result, Payton lacks
a critical protein that would enable his skin to effectively stick together. In
2007, Payton underwent a stem cell transplantation that consisted of inserting bone
marrow and umbilical cord blood collected from his brother. After this treatment,
Payton’s body began producing the missing protein.
Keep reading >
New Zealand
Twin Receives Revolutionary Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
12/3/2008
Maia Friedlander, a four-year old born in Auckland, New Zealand, was the first New
Zealander to receive an umbilical cord blood experimental treatment in the United
States that would combat brain damage she has as a result of being born prematurely.
Upon Maia’s birth, her parents chose to bank her cord blood. This cord blood was
later used at Duke University in Maia’s stem cell transplantation. As a result of
the umbilical cord blood stem cell procedure, Maia’s concentration and coordination
have greatly improved, giving her a real chance to enjoy her childhood.
Keep reading
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