Cordbank - The power of cord blood

A new era

19 March 2010



Stem cell technology really fascinates me, and I wish that I had heard about Cordbank and stem cell technology before I had given birth so that I could have made a considered decision about whether or not it was right for me and my family.  We have always wanted to feature Cordbank on the site, but we are by no means experts in this area, so we asked Cordbank to do a short write up for us.  Here's what they had to say...


DISCOVER THE POWER OF CORD BLOOD

Cord blood is the blood that remains in your baby’s umbilical cord following birth and after the cord is cut. It’s a valuable source of stem cells which are a perfect DNA match for your baby.

By saving your baby’s cord blood you give them the chance to survive some of the most deadly diseases and conditions — now and into adulthood. It provides an irreplaceable medical resource for your baby and can be used to treat over 80 life-threatening diseases including many kinds of cancer.

You can only collect these precious, powerful cord blood stem cells immediately after your baby is born, via a simple and painless procedure. But you need to enrol with CordBank to save your baby’s cord blood before you give birth. It’s your only chance to give your baby their very own back-up immune and blood system.

Research shows there’s a 1 in 200 chance that children born today will need a stem cell transplant in their lifetime. Parents banking their baby’s cord blood today can rest easy in the knowledge that they have these cells safely stored for the future.


PROVEN EXPERTISE

CordBank is Australasia’s longest established and most experienced cord blood collection, processing and storage facility. It is licensed by Medsafe, the regulatory arm of the Ministry of Health.

Since our launch in 2002, we have successfully processed and stored the cord blood of many thousands of families from around New Zealand and around the world. Two CordBank families have already successfully used their stored cord blood for life threatening conditions and today have happy healthy children.


A NEW ERA IN MEDICINE

Medical science now believes that stem cell therapy has the potential to radically change the treatment of human diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, MS, Alzheimer’s, strokes and liver diseases.

Latest emerging medical therapies for a child’s own cord blood include Type 1 diabetes and brain injuries caused by oxygen deprivation or trauma — with many new uses rapidly emerging.

Families who store their newborn’s cord blood at birth give them the chance to benefit from the many future treatments that may depend on these powerful, perfectly matched stem cells. They value the peace of mind they gain from knowing they have done everything possible to give their child the best start in life.

For more information or to view the interest-free payment options, go to www.cordbank.co.nz