News
Could premature babies benefit from their own cord blood stem cells?
Prematurity is the leading cause of newborn deaths (babies in the first four weeks of life) and the second leading cause of infant mortality (within the first year of life), after congenital abnormalities. It’s also the second leading cause of death after pneumonia in children under the age of five. A premature baby is a…
‘It’s cheaper than my TV and I never thought we’d use it’
Just hours after Bailey was born, her mother Rebecca noticed she was moving strangely. Despite initially being given the all clear, a brain scan was performed by the paediatric neurology team shortly after Bailey left hospital. The results showed that she had suffered a stroke in utero. The doctors believe that a piece of placenta had travelled through…
Big cost, little value? – Why 2.35 million parents have banked their children’s cord blood
Over 2 million parents world wide (and many thousands of kiwi families) have banked their babies cord blood. So why do they choose to pay for the service and what are the benefits? 1. Cord blood has been used to treat cancer for the past 25 years – in NZ and around the world. …
Joy after sorrow for family after Doha fire tragedy
A year after tragically losing their two-year-old triplets in a fire in a Doha mall, local family Martin and Jane Weekes welcomed their new babies into the world. Born on July 30, the twins were a very special addition to the family and their arrival was celebrated by us all. Proud father Martin described their…
New baby boy for Emily Sanson-Rejouis – three years after Haitian earthquake devastation
In 2010, New Zealander Emily Sanson-Rejouis and her husband Emmanuel were in Haiti working for the UN peace-keeping mission when they faced incomprehensible tragedy. A massive earthquake claimed the lives of over 300,000 people including Emily’s husband and two of their three young daughters, Kofie-Jade (5yrs) and Zenzie (3yrs). Thankfully little Alyahna (who was only one year old at the time)…
Little girl writes her name for the first time after cord blood reinfusion
Grace was a happy, healthy little girl – until complications during oral surgery at two years old caused a major brain injury. She was diagnosed with hypertonic cerebral palsy, which left her weak and barely able to move. Fortunately, Grace’s cord blood was stored at birth, so she was able to receive life-changing cord blood…
Brain damage and paralysis reversed by toddler’s own cord blood – German doctors publish results in world first report
An international case report, just published by the Ruhr-University Bochum over the weekend details the recovery of a little boy – who went from a vegetative state – with no prospect of recovery – to a walking, talking and smiling child – after treatment with his own cord blood. To download and read the full…
The Healing Cell – an exciting new book about the power of stem cells
This week at CordBank we are very excited about ‘The Healing Cell: How the Greatest Revolution in Medical History is Changing your Life’ – a new book about the incredible powers of stem cells. Its is written by Dr. Robin L Smith, Msgr. Tomasz Trafny and Dr. Max, all incredibly important people in the stem…
Nathan’s life-changing cord blood treatment
Just like New Zealander Maia Friedlander, a little boy from Tucson, Arizona is seeing the incredible benefits of cord blood therapy. Nathan suffers from cerebral palsy, a condition caused by brain injury during birth that affects 1 in 278 children. It affects brain function, concentration and coordination – in Nathan’s case leaving him barely able…
It’s a girl!
Congratulations to new parents Ali and Casey Williams, who welcomed their little girl into the world just last week! Little Jessica Harriet Williams was born on the 2nd of April weighing exactly seven pounds. Mum and baby are doing very well according to Blue’s captain Ali, and Jessica’s cord blood is already safely stored here…