I Might Have Tried It

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Dad Central for the Cord Blood Registry. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

I don’t want to dream about living my life because I want to live my dreams. Nor do I want to be the person who spends his life wondering, worrying and wishing about the past.

When I was asked to participate in the Cord Blood Registry Program I wondered if I would be a good participant because my days of making babies are in the past, or at least I think they are.

The boys are still champion swimmers so I suppose if the opportunity came up again I could rise to meet the challenge. But even if I can’t I know there are people who read my blog that are in a position where this could be valuable for them.

And it resonated with me because I have wondered if I should have looked into it more seriously years ago. The window of opportunity to collect newborn cord blood stem cells is very small, immediately after birth or never.

We didn’t do it. Can’t really say the decision was financially based because I don’t remember anyone providing me with any information or talking about it.

Regenerative Medicine

I can’t help but think about it now and wonder what sort of benefits might come from newborn stem cells. One of my little sisters is deaf and so is a brother-in-law so when I hear about how there may be a connection between stem cells and helping with hearing loss it is hard for me not to want to see more study and research.

What would have happened if my folks had banked my sister’s stem cells? Maybe a time would come when medical science could find a way to use them to restore her hearing.

I am not a doctor nor do I play one on television but based upon everything I know I haven’t seen a reason why more families shouldn’t be given an opportunity to bank stem cells.

Legislation has been introduced to help facilitate this.

The Family Cord Blood Banking Act will allow expectant parents to use tax-free dollars to pay for cord blood banking services through Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA), Flex Spending Accounts (FSA) and the medical expenses tax deduction.

In the interim while Congress mulls over what to do about The Family Cord Blood Banking Act there are options. From now until March 24 anyone who visits cordbankingbasics.com and completes an information request will receive a $200 discount on banking a newborn’s umbilical cord blood with Cord Blood Registry.

For The Kids

I can’t go back in time so I can’t say for certain what I would have done. But I know I would have liked to have had the opportunity to have learned more about it and to have made a decision based upon research and not because I didn’t know about it.

• Saved: Children