Woman Invests in Cord Blood to Potentially Save Grandson’s Life
Gayle Connors has invested in banking her grandson’s cord blood stem cells, becoming part of the 1% of Australians that bank their umbilical cord blood every year. Connors currently suffers from leukemia.
It seems that the disease may run in the family, as Connors’ grandfather died of leukemia. She wants to give her grandchildren every chance at survival, if they everface the potentially deadly diagnosis. She also recognizes the other potential uses for cord blood therapy:
"God forbid if he was ever in a car accident and lost the ability to walk,” she says. “It's possible stem cells could help him to walk."
Connors also has a daughter who suffers from cerebral palsy. She is aware that cord blood may also be effective in treating this particular disease, as well.
"You just don't know what you might need it for”.
Professor Mark Kirkland, who works at an Australian cord blood bank, hopes to encourage more Australians to follow Connors’ lead and consider banking their children’s cord blood. He states that only 1% of parents choose to do so, as there is limited information available about the potential benefits of stem cell therapy.