With every passing day, the science behind the utility of umbilical cord blood is going a step forward. It is increasingly being used for curing leukemia patients. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells. As the name suggests, it is extracted from the umbilical cord and the placenta immediately after delivery. Stems cells are very important. They have the capability of creating entirely new blood and organs too. The cord blood stem cells have created your baby and by preserving those stem cells, you are giving your baby a greater chance to fight possible life-threatening diseases.

Umbilical cord blood stem cells are commonly used to treat childhood leukemia for many years. However, only in recent years that adults with leukemia have been successfully treated with transplantation of cord blood stem cells from unrelated donors. One case is that of Stephen Sprague who was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in 1995. Chemotherapy only kept the cancer under control for 17 months. In April 1997, he was in the final stage of the disease. He took part in a clinical trial to determine if adequate amount of cord blood stem cells could be harvested for a successful transplantation to an adult. In November 1997, he underwent a cord blood stem cell transplant and has been cancer free for over 9 years.

If a suitable donor is not found, doctors are able to search the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) for allogeneic matches (stem cells donated outside of the family). With nearly 7 million potential donors, and 70,000 units of cord blood available, the chances are greater of finding a near perfect match for those seeking treatment or transplants

Cord blood transplant is a relatively new compared to bone marrow transplants The quantity of umbilical cord blood is limited. The amount of stem cells is very crucial for any treatment. A younger patient will require less stem cells compared to an older one. If for any reason the patient requires a second graft, he will have to take a donation from outside. This may lead to more complications.

Another factor involves the number of cells being transplanted. Children have a greater chance of success, because they do not require the larger amounts of stem cells. Doctors are researching ways and ideas (such as trying to use two or three units of cord blood, or possibly growing new cells from a single unit in the laboratory prior to transfusion) in which to create better options for adults need stem cell transfusions.

At the end of the day, it is your decision. Nevertheless, do remember that even if the option of bone marrow transplant is available, your child will have a greater chance in emergencies or critical illnesses when there is no matching donor nearby. It is not necessary that your child will have a sibling with matching genetics close to him all time in the future. The cord blood, which you had saved years ago after his birth, will be enough for him to start life afresh.

Once a match is made, many factors are considered, such as age of the donor, their sex, medical conditions, blood type, and other things. The urgency of the required transplant will also play a factor in this process.

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