Stockbridge, Ga. (July 29, 2019) – Bringing a baby into the world is a beautiful experience. For mothers at Piedmont Henry Hospital, the birth of their child can also help save a life.
Since 2011, Piedmont Henry has partnered with LifeCord, a community-based public cord blood bank, to collect and store umbilical cord blood used for the treatment of various cancers, blood disorders and immune disorders. Although it is a very limited quantity, cord blood is a rich source of the blood-forming cells required for transplants in patients, both children and adults, with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell, anemia and other blood diseases.
In honor of National Cord Blood Awareness Month this July, Piedmont Henry is proud to celebrate three more successful cord blood matches through its donation program. To date, the hospital has earned recognition from LifeCord for 17 total life-saving matches. Donations from the hospital have most recently been used in the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic disorder, acute myelogenous leukemia and severe combined immunodeficiency.
“We are pleased to partner with LifeCord to give patients a better chance for a life-saving transplant,” said Kena Morton, manager of labor and delivery at Piedmont Henry Hospital. “Through our cord blood program, new parents at our hospital have the opportunity to generously donate their baby’s umbilical cord blood to a public cord blood bank and possibly help save someone else's life.”
The process is simple and poses no health risk or pain for the mother or baby. With consent from the parent, the blood is drawn out of the umbilical cord and placenta, which are often disposed of, and then it is packed and shipped to a public cord blood bank where it is processed and waits for a match.
Piedmont Henry is one of only two hospitals in Georgia collaborating with LifeCord. Parents interested in donating their baby’s umbilical cord blood after delivery should discuss with their obstetrician or contact the hospital during their pregnancy. There is no cost associated with the donation for parents.
For more information about Women’s Services at Piedmont Henry, visit www.piedmont.org.