Major healthcare transformations and preventive medicine developments were witnessed in 2015. Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplants have been increasingly researched and proactively brought to use for curing a large number of diseases which were initially not treatable.
Successful Cord Blood Transplants of 2015
The life of a seven-year-old Emirati boy, Zayed Al Hammadi, was saved by cord blood stem cells
Zayed was diagnosed with beta thalassaemia major, a severe form of an inherited blood disorder that requires regular transfusions and does not have a permanent cure. Cord blood stem cells were donated by his three-year-old brother Mohammad. His condition was deteriorating fast and the family was given their last chance of hope thanks to the storage of Mohammad’s umbilical cord blood which was preserved at his birth. At present, stem cell transplant is the only known cure for beta thalassaemia major. A detailed Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing that is done to match a potential donor and recipient, showed the siblings were compatible. Zayed underwent a cord blood stem cell transplant. Since the transplant, he has returned back home, made a full recovery and no longer manifests any signs of disease. Kenneth R. Cooke, managing director, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who carried out the surgery, said: “Stem cell storage really can change lives and to see such a positive outcome with Zayed’s case shows just what is possible. I would always recommend families to store their child’s cord blood whether they know of any possible health issues or not, as it can be used in the future for their benefit and that of other family members”.
Stannington toddler suffering from massive brain tumor undergoes a successful cord blood stem cell transplant
Little Joseph Fawcett battled back from a massive brain tumor which almost claimed his life. Courage knows no bounds for the three-year-old who has undergone 11 bouts of intensive chemotherapy and a cord blood stem cell transplant in order to fight back to health. His parents are today looking forward to a family Christmas, knowing they have come a long way from that heartbreaking day their son was diagnosed. Luckily, against the odds, Joseph’s treatment started working and he no longer has any signs of the tumor. Now the lively three-year-old is looking forward to Christmas at home with his parents and younger brother, William.
Shanghai Baby Girl Returns Home after Successful Stem Cell Treatment
Zhao Jiaxin is back in her parents’ arms yesterday after being released from the hospital in Shanghai. The baby earlier underwent cord blood stem cell therapy at Fudan University’s Children’s Hospital to treat a bowel disease. The stem cells were extracted from umbilical cord blood provided by a donor.
The dearth of available treatment options and proven results of cord blood stem cell transplants, make the need for Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking evident. Babycell is one of the best and largest service providers of cord blood stem cell banking. Along with stem cell preservation, Babycell also provides value added services like antenatal care newborn screening (NBS), CFU assay- to test the ability of stem cells to differentiate, HLA testing and more.