Every bit of a new born baby is precious – even the bit that’s thrown away. The first time you hold your newborn baby in your arms, you know that life will never be the same. You also know that you’ll do everything you can, now and in the future, to protect and care for your child. That’s why even before your next baby’s born you need to find out all you can about cord blood stem cell collection and preservation. Something that, one day, could help to protect your baby’s health.
Stem Cell storage has become very popular around the world and Future Health is able to provide your new baby’s ultimate insurance plan.
Stem cells are regarded as the 'building blocks' or master cells of the blood and immune system. They are the basic building blocks of human life and already being successfully used as part of the treatment for childhood leukemia and various forms of cancer but they also have the potential to treat other serious diseases in future.
These cells can be harvested easily from the umbilical cord of newborns at no risk to mum or baby and this has prompted the launch of at least four private stem cell banks in the UK. Stem cells banks have been operating for years in the US and in some states it is law to inform new parents about this potentially life-saving facility.
Stem Cells are very clever and can develop into many different types of cell within the body. They can be seen as a sort of repair system for the body, where a stem cell (or progenitor cell) has the potential to become a new type of cell with a more specialized function, such as a heart muscle cell to repair damaged heart muscle. Over the past 17 years and in over 10,000 transplantations, stem cells have helped treat many life-threatening illnesses by 'repairing' the damaged parts of the body . In addition to the standard medical treatments where cord blood stem cells are routinely used, ongoing research is continuously focused in finding new uses for stem cells. For example, Researchers at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the Institute of Child Health (ICH) have found encouraging evidence that blood-borne stem cells can be used to make lung cells in the body.
Umbilical cord stem cell storage is where cord blood (which is rich in stem cells) from your baby's umbilical cord is safely collected at birth, using the collection kit supplied by Future Health and, under stringent conditions, frozen then stored in purpose built containers.
For Members thinking about cord blood banking or confused about what it means and needing to ask questions, here are three good reasons to talk to Kelli Garrett at Future Health first:-
- Future Health was the UK’s first fully accredited cord blood stem cell storage operation to receive accreditation from the MHRA (Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and to receive a substantive license from the Human Tissue Authority (HTA), so you can also be assured that the service and facilities meet the highest standards.
- Scientific evidence shows that the larger the amount collected and stored the higher the chance of successful treatment. Based upon this evidence, Future Health will freeze and store 100 per cent of the cord blood stem cell sample – nothing less will do. This means that should a child need treatment they will have access to their complete stored sample.
- Future Health operates and manages its own dedicated state-of-the art cryogenic storage facility at its newly-expanded site in Nottingham.
Need more information? email Kelli Garrett on Kelli@FutureHealth.co.uk or call her on +971 4 3116613
