Holly saw a bright future ahead of her about ten years ago. She had just taken a job in sales and marketing, fresh out of college, and finally moving out of her parent

Yet-to-be parents across the world are getting the message from doctors and medical practitioners: donate cord blood. Individuals who are combating malignant ailments can have new hope for survival when pregnancy gives birth to new life. Patients suffering from acute disorders from the immune system, severe anemia, leukemia, and other conditions can potentially be cured by the stem cells which are contained in a newborn baby’s umbilical cord. Researchers strongly advocate the need for cord blood donation, as they come up with newer advancements in treatment with blood forming cells.

The term waste material was once synonymous with the placenta and umbilical cord. This biological material was considered unimportant. The scenario has since been reversed due to the understanding that patients suffering from spinal cord disorders, diseases of the immune system, various types of blood disorders and many other conditions can be helped by these umbilical cord cells. Instead of discarding them, the cells are now treasured by doctors. The procedure of cord blood collection is also being more widely accepted at the same time by soon to be parents.

Prior to the delivery of the placenta, but after the baby has been born, the umbilical cord blood is collected. The process can be initiated after the placenta has been delivered as well in some cases. Neither the new born baby nor the mother is ever under any risk or subjected to any form of pain. Advanced equipment for the safe collection of cord blood cells is provided by the blood bank where the donor decides to preserve the cells. Regardless of the birth procedure the umbilical cord blood stem cell can be collected. With no changes in the procedure of delivery, stem cells can be collected with both caesarean and vaginal deliveries.

The hematopoietic features of bone marrow stem cells are mimicked by umbilical cord blood stem cells to a certain degree. But, bone marrow samples are lacking the rich number of stem cells that are found in umbilical cord blood. Any type of organ or tissue that includes three types of blood cells, platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells, can be produced by umbilical cord blood stem cells. The option of getting a cord blood transplant as opposed to a bone marrow stem cell transplant can prove to be a wise decision if your family has a history of or a family member has a medical condition such as any immunodeficiency disorders or other genetic disorders, metabolic storage disorders, aplastic anemia, leukemia, thalassemia, or Fanconi’s anemia.

If a patient is from an ethic minority group in the country where he resides, finding a matching donor can present a significant challenge. The biggest obstacle in locating a matching bone marrow cell donor falls on the shoulders of those who are of native American, Hispanic, African-American, or mixed ethnicity. You should donate cord blood stem cells if a transplant is required by one of your family members who suffer from a condition that can be treated by stem cells. There is great difficulty finding a matching donor for bone marrow, but cord blood has a 25% greater chance of matching. In the case of an emergency, your child can even be their own donor.

To ensure their family members

With the ability to teach your skin to be young again, imagine a “chemical messenger” that can enter your skin cells and do just that.

The 500 mark for cord blood volunteer donations has been surpassed by an Indianapolis business and hospital.

Dropping dead or signing liability papers for an unusual treatment were the two choices Carron had to choose between when she had to make a decision on treating her serious heart condition.

The event planner, chose to sign the papers.

Dunking her toes in her backyard swimming pool and spending more time with her grandkids was a future worth looking forward to for Carol Franz. She thought as retirement approached, she’d start to ease into life.

Training her brain to spew out statistics as fast as any computer, delivering addresses to 1,000 people at a time and talking one on one with the president of the United States was something she was not expecting.

President Bush discussed the stem cell veto and executive order in June, and Franz was called to the White House to join in. Franz was mentioned in the president’s text.

“I appreciate the fact that we’re joined by a lot of folks who share the deep desire to advance science, and at the same time, uphold our moral values. I appreciate the fact that Mike Leavitt is here, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. I want to thank the members of the United States Congress and Senate who have joined us. I thank you for taking your time to be here on this important announcement today.”

“I’m joined on stage by two good docs, really smart, capable people: Dr. Bill Hurlbut, Professor of Stanford University Medical Center; Dr. Don Landry, Professor at Columbia University Department of Medicine — actually, he’s the Chairman of the Department. The reason they’re here is these are brilliant biologists who are seeking new ways to develop stem cell lines without violating human life. And these are smart folks, and I cannot thank them enough for coming to the Oval Office to share with me their wisdom and their vision.”

“I’m also up here with Carol Franz; she has whipped cancer twice by using adult stem cells. In other words, adult stem cells have saved her life.”

“She’s a determined woman who believes strongly that there are different alternatives available to use stem cells other than those which are created as the result of destruction of human life.”

Franz says that she doesn’t thin that same way as some people who wonder about their purposes in life.

She understands stem cell research and therapy and is on a mission to educate other American’s about the science and treatment alternative.

She knows what she is talking about considering the fact that such therapies have twice snatched her back from cancer’s jaws of death.

However, she is one of the very few, and this is a point of concern for her.

The stem cell field is riddled with various arguments, and she is familiar with all of them. But there is one point that has left her nearly furious, and that is that “adult” and “embryonic” are very different fields and people are confused about this point.

Any and all controversial issues are avoided by adult stem cell therapies according to Carol, who is a deeply committed Catholic.

Stem cell therapies are not only limited to cancer; they can be applied towards many more medical conditions. Carol cannot fathom how many doctors actually don’t have a clue about this.

Joining the numbers of the confused are some of the politicians she has spoken with. This presents a major dilemma. With 73 adult stem cell therapies that have saved thousands of lives, it would be an injustice to have confused politicians casting votes for or against embryonic stem cell funding.

“It’s sad when a 65-year-old grandmother in Owego has this information, and so few others do,” she says.

Carol has before and after pictures on her website www.carolfranz.com

. IN one photograph, he has a t-shirt on that reads, “Survivor Adult Stem Cell Transplant.”

Many people think that the word “adult” refers to her age, and that cells from an embryo saved her life. Carol is disappointed with the high level of misinterpretation which is a product of misinformation and insufficient stem cell education.

“They just don’t understand, they just don’t know,” says Franz.

She says she knows people right near her in Greater Binghamton, who are past adult stem cell transplant patients. They too are survivors.

However, while Carol feels the urge to tell everyone, the other individuals remain quieter and subtle.

But a few people are beginning to join Carol