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One Birth can Save Millions



Things become more interesting when life put you in the other shoe. Lawyer becomes Client, Police Officer becomes Criminals and Doctors become Patients, especially when the doctor is a gold medalist. I want to share a casual talk that converted into information into knowledge into wisdom. 

I was having a casual conversation with my younger sister who is B.E.M.S. Gold Medalist from Hamdard University Pakistan and expecting a baby (as on published date). 

Me (grabbing bottle of Malt Water): Hey Sis What’s up!

Courtesy: Google Images
Sis (replying casually): Nothing Much! Reading few Articles on Cord Blood Banking.

Me (taking a sip of Malt Water): “Cord Blood Banking” Translation Please!

Sis: Stem Cell Banking

Me (asking as she is speaking Alien Language): Translation in language that I can understand

Sis(Striking a Taunt): You should increase you Vocabulary Bro! 

Me(irritatingly) : Ha Ha! Will you Please Explain now?

Sis: Cord Blood Banking is a facility through which umbilical cord blood is stored for future use.

Me: Guess What! I am not a Gold Medalist!

Sis: Dumbo! Cord blood is blood that remains in the placenta and in the attached umbilical cord after childbirth. Cord blood is collected because it contains stem cells, which can be used to treat genetic disorders genetic disorders.

There a started a series of very critical and thought provoking question from my side which turns into FAQs for her when answering.

 

Why would an individual store the baby's blood in a cord blood bank?

Because its life saving and where else will you store the cord blood other than a Cord Blood Bank, in a fridge? Dumbo! 

The cord blood of baby is a rich source of stem cells which are heritable correlated to the baby and his/her family unit. The stem cells are leading cells in the manner that they contribute to the development of all organs, tissues, and systems in the human body.

By the grace of Allah, Stem cells are capable of converting into other types of cells in the human being to create new growth and improvement. They are the construction slab of the immune system. The revolution of these cells offers doctors a way to treat leukemia and some inherited health disorders. Cord blood stem cells have the same capability of treating illness as bone marrow but with considerably less rejection.

Is it collected as same as normal blood?

Arey Wah My Hippocrates! You are partially right. In Syringe Method: A syringe is used to take blood out from umbilical shortly after it has been cut. It is similar to regular blood test. In Bag Method the umbilical cord is elevated to draw off blood into bag.

In both cases it should be collected within/during 15 minutes after birth and should be processed with in 48 by laboratory.

Sis! Who was Hippocrates?

“Google it” she replied with a smile.

Is this process risky to mother or baby?

Nay! It’s totally safe. Even it’s not painful or harmful as it is retrieved from umbilical cord after it has been cut. It can be aching for the father though!

“Why”? I asked astonishingly.

Because it’s costly dude! And one of the major reasons is unavailability of Cord Blood Bank in Pakistan. I think Cryo Cell Pakistan is probably the only Private Cord Blood I know in Pakistan and it’s expensive.

Nay Sis! The major problem is lack of awareness.

How she asked?

I will tell you later. First tell me. Can it be donated?   

 Of course Bro! Baby’s cord blood could be a precious resource for anyone. From NGOs to non-profit blood banks and medical services, there are many locations that will collect, process, and use the stem cells from baby’s cord blood to treat other people, but unfortunately it is not available in Pakistan though. By the way! Similar to other blood donations, there is no charge to the donor of cord blood.

Illustration: Google Images
In my Rough Idea Cord Blood or Stem Cell is a similar to insurance. It provides peace of mind that you have a vulnerable resource if needed.  
It is expensive but the prices can be brought down by using the law of supply. Let us assume that if the regularity authorities develop a public Cord Blood Bank. The bank asks the patient to donate its Cord Blood, which is normally wasted, and in return all of their delivery charges, assuming normal delivery cases and up to 2nd child birth, will be waived off. This will add a huge incentive for the patient to donate cord blood. As financially, the medical cost is waived off and, emotionally, they are supporting a cause to save lives. And those blood bank can either sale or donate those stem cells to patients of cancer, blood disorders, immune system disorders, genetic diseases, autism, spinal cord injuries, diabetes, and chronic diseases like Thalassemia, Cerebral palsy, Diabetes, Parkinson’s, Leukemia etc.. In short, one birth can save millions.
(This post was earlier published at www.newsteria.com as One Birth Can Save Million written by myself)
DISCLAIMER
  
  • This blog is not valid for court.
  • This blog is for infotainment purpose & my passion to share. No direct financial assistance is sought from this blog. I am sharing my experiences and learning. Your contribution will be highly appreciated.

SAVE TREES.. THINK BEFORE PRINTING!!

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Location: Karachi, Pakistan

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