Harlem Hospital Promotes Collection of Life-Saving Umbilical Blood

Since its inception in December, the Harlem Hospital has collected 20 units of cord blood, well above their expectations and a desperately needed boost in the African-American and Latino communities where donations of bone marrow and cord blood lag severely behind that of whites. Umbilical cord blood has unique characteristics that make it desirable for transplants. Of the 9 million potential bone marrow donors on the national registry, only 650,000  — or 7 percent — are African American. Caucasians make up almost 80 percent of the national donor registry . It’s a disparity that leaves African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans at risk of dying from diseases that might be treated, said Dr. Edgar Mandeville, director of Obstetrics and Gynecology for Harlem Hospital. you can read more here

Whether to donate or bank umbilical cord blood is a very personal decision. One which should not be made lightly.  Because the number of umbilical cord blood donations is so low for minorities, the chance that matches can be made are fewer. That might be reason enough in favor of banking your own child’s cord blood .  There are costs to consider although  there is a cord blood bank, MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories,  which does not  charge a yearly fee  thus bringing the cost down considerably.

Do the research and consider all facts carefully. You will be glad you did.

{Click here for a free information packet and special coupon for MAZE Cord Blood Laboratories! }