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Gifts of Life From Their Umbilical Cords
Knox Leader
29 November 2005
FERNTREE Gully toddler Bailey was just minutes old when he gave his most precious gift, blood from the cord that had sustained his life for the previous nine months.
Blood from Bailey's umbilical cord was the first collected for the cord blood bank at the Angliss Hospital in Ferntree Gully when it opened in August 2003.
His brother, Caleb, became the family's second blood cord donor when he was born at the hospital last month.
Cord blood bank clinical co-ordinator Jenny Forrester said almost 1000 cord blood units had been collected since Bailey's birth.
"Those cord blood units are now frozen and ready for transplant," Ms Forrester said.
"The cord blood is a rich source of stem cells and can be used as an alternative to bone marrow for people with leukemia and other serious blood disorders.
"In the past it has mainly been used for children, but we have started treating adults as well, which is terrific."
The Angliss and Box Hill hospitals are the only ones in metropolitan Melbourne collecting cord blood.
Bailey's mum, Michelle Jackson, said she found out about the bank the day she arrived at the hospital to deliver Bailey.
"It was just as I was being wheeled to surgery (for a caesarean) that I remarked I wanted to do it," Mrs Jackson said.
"It's a very easy thing to do and it saves lives."
For information on becoming a cord blood donor phone 9764 6216.
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