Every day, mothers donate their umbilical cord blood to help save lives around the world — and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Cord Blood Bank is raising awareness about cord blood donation in recognition of National Cord Blood Awareness Month in July.
LifeSouth is the first cord blood bank in the Southeast, and the fifth nationwide, to provide transfusable cord blood products that are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration.
Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells, which can be used in treatment of many diseases and disorders. Cord blood transplants can help treat more than 80 blood cancers, genetic diseases and immune system and metabolic disorders, including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia. It has surpassed bone marrow as a source for stem cells in transplants. To date, more than 40,000 patients have received cord blood transplants since the procedure was first performed in 1988.
“Every cord blood donation holds the potential to become a lifeline for a patient in need,” said Luis Hernandez, director of cellular therapies at LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Cord Blood Bank. “By choosing to donate, mothers are making an extraordinary gift, one that could mean a second chance at life for someone battling a serious illness. It’s a powerful way to give life twice.”
During a cord blood donation, a medical professional collects the stem cell-rich blood from the umbilical cord after delivery. The process is painless for both the mother and child, and there is no fee associated with donating cord blood. Local mothers delivering at UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health North and Baptist South Medical Center have the option to donate their umbilical cord blood to LifeSouth.
Once a donation has been received and tested, it is securely stored by LifeSouth and added to the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be the Match registry — the largest and most diverse donor registry in the world. LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Cord Blood Bank is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy.
For more information, go to lifesouth.org/cord-blood-bank.
