Cord Blood Stem Cells

Most people familiar with Leukemia know that a bone marrow transplant is the final option to cure the Leukemia. A Leukemia patient must find a matching donor so their body does not reject the stem cells taken from the bone marrow of the donor. Usually the matching donor is of the same race or descent as the patient. A German usually matches with perhaps an American of German descent. Or a Chinese American might match with a Chinese donor and so on.

Unfortunately, there is a shortage of matching donors in minority patients. Therefore, if an end stage Leukemia patient is unable to find a matching donor, the result could be death. This is especially true in the African American community. About 8% of donors in the Bone Marrow Registry are African Americans. Up to 80% of African American patients in need of a bone marrow transplant are unable to find a match.

Such was the case of Courtney Parham, a young African American woman who was diagnosed with Leukemia just after graduating from high school. She was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant to save her life. But like most African American patients could not find a matching donor. Faced with death, Courtney's doctors decided on the much less known Cord Blood Stem Cell transplant. Courtney would be implanted with Adult Stem Cells taken from a baby's umbilical cord.

To make a long story short, the Adult Stem Cells did the trick. Courtney is now cured of her Leukemia and now attending college. Since her life-altering experience with Leukemia, she has become an advocate of registering and donating bone marrow.

This is a story on why donors are so important. It is very simple for the donor to save a life. Potential donors can go to the website marrow.org and find more information on how to register. The national bone marrow is actively encouraging donors from minorities as there is currently a severe shortage. Parents of newborn babies can also donate their cord blood (or store it in case they need it). This cord blood can be used to help patients such as Courtney, patients who are given a second chance at life due to a simple donation.