Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by lindanu on February 20, 2011 at 5:55pm

Knowing the technology may be there in the future, I think you have to do it or you may regret it. Wouldn't you do anything you could to help your daughter? So doesn't this new child deserve the same consideration? When you daughter gets older, I think she will agree that it was the right thing to do.

Permalink Reply by Rose Edward on February 20, 2011 at 8:09pm

I am so glad that you brought this up! My husband refuses to have any more children. But If I could have another child, I would definitely save the cord blood and stem cells. Couldn't the same stem cells help both kids? That being said, I don't know if it can help or not. My husband seems to think it only works for cancer but admits he hasn't researched the issue. I would be greatly interested in any information out there so please send it my way. We would do anything for our kids. Why not keep safe something that could cure a child that normally would be thrown away? People who say that isn't right I just don't understand.

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 23, 2011 at 4:20pm

Hi Rose....from the research I have done...and from what I understand....one child's cord blood cannott help in a sibling's cure for diabetes whatsoever. The only reason I would save this child's cord blood is in case this child becomes a diabetic at some point. Which is why I have this dillema....I feel guilty to have one's cord blood and not the other's who I know I def could have used now.

Permalink Reply by MidwestMommy on February 20, 2011 at 8:51pm

I think it's possible that it could help both kids if a cure is found that utilizes stem cells, although I'm not as well read on it as you are probably. For me the question would be - does it make sense to pay to harvest and store these for 20+ years in the hope that a cure could utilize them? Last time I researched this (6 years ago) there were some valid questions brought up about the process and the companies involved. You are going to have a very long commitment with them - I think it pays to do your homework. Granted a lot could have changed since then. Good luck.

Permalink Reply by Roxanne on February 21, 2011 at 7:29am

I would definitely store the stem cells/cord blood. I have not researched this topic in depth, but I was under the assumption that the cord blood could be used for any of the immediate family (parents/siblings). I agree that your daughter would understand. Plus, it seems like there is so much hope and possibility with the stem cells/cord blood. Good luck to you.

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 23, 2011 at 4:27pm

There are several circumstances that a sibling's cord blood could be used to help someone else in the family......unfortunately...diabetes is not one of them...only that person's cord blood could be used to help themselves in the case of Type 1 diabetes :(

Permalink Reply by SANTI on February 22, 2011 at 5:27am

Hi Kelly, thanks for the post.

I would do it if we were going to have another child.

One of my 3 yr old twins is T1, and I wish now I would have accepted saving the umbilical chord when they offered it to me 3 yr ago. Back then, no one in our family was diabetic, so who would have known my child was going to be T1. If I had his chord now, who knows what might be avail to him in the near future.

It would have only cost me around $4,000 to have the chord saved for 18 years. Maybe 3 years ago it seemed too expensive, but now that we're living with T1 it looks so cheap! Good luck to you & God Bless.

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 23, 2011 at 4:28pm

Same story with us....no history of it so didn't think there would be a need....

Permalink Reply by Mia on February 23, 2011 at 7:11am

Hi, my daughter was just dx Jan 20th of the this year. She is sixteen. So sixteen years ago storing the cord/blood was not an option for us. Never even asked. Your blessed to be in the time you are were you are being asked. If I was asked yeah I would have. Good luck with your decision.

Permalink Reply by Kelly on February 23, 2011 at 5:01pm

Okay...I am now reading that there are public cord blood banks that people donate to that are available to the public if needed and you can find a match...that's somewhat comforting in teh event they find a cure using cord blood for my daughters sake and if I decide to not bank my 3rds cord blood because it is kind of expensive.

Permalink Reply by Jan on February 27, 2011 at 6:01am

Not only would I do this, I would of course not neglect the obvious and collect and store her cord blood too. There have been studies using cord blood may possibly help in the future and of course if she ever got leukemia, cord blood would be needed. So bummed we did not do this but children have always been so healthy in our family and extended family. Did not even admit the possibility that health problems can and do arise. Plus the cord blood and maybe even stem cells could still be a match for the other siblings. Your D daughter may be able to use this one day.

Permalink Reply by carb101 on March 5, 2011 at 2:44pm

I would absolutely do it. Don't assume that the stem cells or cord blood might help one child or not the other. The technology isn't there right now for any D cure, but it may be - for your current D child and for any who might be diagnosed in the future. The most you have to lose is the money, IMO.

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