The international observance aims to raise awareness for the lifesaving act of cord blood donation
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – November 13, 2024 – Every day, mothers around the world, including those across Northeast Florida, make the choice to donate their umbilical cord blood to a cord blood bank after giving birth. LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Cord Blood Bank (part of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers) is working to raise awareness for this life-saving act in honor of World Cord Blood Day on November 15.
Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. To date, more than 40,000 patients have received cord blood transplants since the procedure was first performed in 1988. Cord blood has even surpassed bone marrow as a source for stem cells in transplants. Cord blood transplants can help treat more than 80 blood cancers, genetic diseases and immune system and metabolic disorders, including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia.
“Donating cord blood after delivery is painless, safe for both baby and mother, and could save lives,” said Luis Hernandez, Director of Cellular Therapies for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. “Unfortunately, many do not know this is an option. World Cord Blood Day helps us bring attention to the wonderful benefits of donating cord blood and lets expectant mothers know it is important to ask their healthcare provider about donating.”
Local mothers delivering at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, UF Health Shands Hospital, UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health North and Baptist Medical Center South have the option to donate their umbilical cord blood to LifeSouth, which is one of only eight cord blood banks in the nation to be licensed by the FDA.
During a cord blood donation, a medical professional collects the stem cell-rich blood from the umbilical cord after delivery. The process is painless for both the mother and child, and there is no fee associated with donating cord blood.
Once a donation has been received and tested, it is securely stored by LifeSouth and added to the National Marrow Donor Program’s (NMDP)'s Registry. LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Cord Blood Bank is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).
For more information, visit lifesouthcord.org.
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About LifeSouth Community Blood Centers:
LifeSouth is a non-profit community blood bank serving more than 150 hospitals in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. LifeSouth is committed to meeting the blood supply needs of hospitals and their patients by providing the highest quality blood components and services. The LifeSouth team is dedicated to making sure the blood is there when a patient is in need. To learn more, visit LifeSouth.org or donatingblood.org.
About LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank:
LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank is a public cord blood bank that collects and stores umbilical cord blood for the purpose of clinical transplantation and research. LifeSouth manufactures an FDA licensed cord blood product called CORDCYTE and is FACT accredited. LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank participates in the network of public cord blood banks affiliated with the National Marrow Donor Program’s (NMDP)'s Registry and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank is focused on increasing the ethnic diversity of donors from which cord blood is collected. LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank is a program of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers.