Saving stem cells

Maybe I’ve seen one too many sci-fi movies, but the thought of a vial of my child’s blood sitting in a blood bank waiting to be harvested for stem cells really creeps me out.

I know this is very silly and ignorant of me. I’ve researched cord blood banking, but the thought still makes me a little uncomfortable.

In case you don’t know, cord blood banking is a recent trend wherein mothers can opt to save a sample of the blood from a child’s umbilical cord immediately after the birth. That blood can then be stored privately for a fee or can be donated to a public blood bank.

That use could include treating diseases via stem-cell transplants for more than 80 diseases, including leukemia, according to the Cord Blood Registry, a private storage company. Medical professionals also say the cells may someday be used in regenerative medicine to treat brain injury and diabetes.

If you store your child’s privately, then you could have access to some amazing health benefits for that child, a sibling or even someone else in the family who is a match. If you donate publicly, you’re guaranteed anonymity and someone else might be able to use your child’s cells.

I hadn’t given cord blood banking much thought until my doctor asked me last week if I would be donating or storing my child’s stem cells. She heavily encouraged me to do it and even added that she has an office goal of 100 percent cord blood banking.

I felt more than a little pressured.

But I’m still unsure what to do. I can’t afford to store privately. Most companies charge around $2,000 for the first-year and then about $150 annually. I’ve gone back and forth on donating publicly. The altruistic side of me says it’s a no-brainer because it could save some child’s life somewhere. But the paranoid side of me keeps thinking of those sci-fi thrillers.

Am I over thinking this? What do you think about cord blood banking? Is it a good idea with no drawbacks, or are there concerns with donating your child’s stem cells?