A recent study by Faculty of Medicine department of Melbourne has found that now umbilical cord stem cells can also treat the patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). A Couple of Tauranga (New Zealand) James Barr and Katrina Barr have stored the blood of their second baby to cure their first child Alexis who is suffering from cystic fibrosis. The cure would allow their daughter to breathe easily and that would mean a new life for their daughter.  Genetics professor Bob Williamson said that a child sibling suffering from cystic fibrosis was found to be an ideal match for this.

Generally cord blood of the siblings is known to have one in four chances to be a perfect match so that it would not get rejected by the child’s immune system that is having this disease. The CordBank is the first and only provider of the cord blood stem cell banking of New Zealand. It has started providing its services to Kiwi families and their children suffering from this disease. The process of cord banking involves blood collection from the umbilical cord of new born soon after its birth. The mother suffers no pain and there is no risk associated.

The disease of cystic fibrosis is common but one that is inherited. Under this a child is born with a defective gene that causes mucus in the lungs. It results into lethal infections. On an average a person suffering from this disease has life expectancy of around 30 years. Once the treatment passes the clinical testing and the treatment is developed, the study will benefit a large number of kiwi people. However, there are very rare chances when a person needs the treatment from the stem cells.

The family did banking of cord blood stem cells of their second baby not just only to cure Alexis but also for their second child. It was done with the association of Melbourne University, Cure Kids and Cystic Fibrosis Association. Next are some basic questions that one would like to know about the cord blood banking.

Ø  Cord blood – It is the remaining blood in the umbilical cord and placenta after the birth of the child. It is being used today for cord blood transplantation for repairing damaged tissues.

Ø  Collection time -The right time for the collection of cord blood is right after birth.

Ø  Storage for how long- It is stored till the time the kid turns 18.

Ø  Why storage- The next question that most of the people ask is why they should go for the umbilical cord storage. It is because as the blood is an exact match for the child it can be used for the treatment of some severe diseases like cerebral palsy, cancer and diabetes of type 1. The umbilical cord blood is also free of viruses.

Ø  Where to store it- It is stored in special banks either public or private. One can also ask a hospital during the delivery as they already have connections with the banks. One can search online to find the banks close to their location.

Donation of cord blood is great work for which everyone should contribute.