Published: 02-18-09
Milestone in Cord Blood collected right after birth powerful tool in fighting many deadly diseases
HOUSTON Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones today applauded local moms doctors and hospital leaders for reaching a milestone in the units of umbilical cord blood collected in Houston.
In just over a year health officials at St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital in Houston in partnership with Texas Childrens Hospital and the Texas Cord Blood Bank in San Antonio have collected approximately 300 units of umbilical cord blood.
Umbilical cord blood which is normally discarded after the birth of a baby is rich in blood-making cells that can be used as an alternative to bone marrow transplants to treat cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma disorders of the blood-making system such as sickle-cell anemia and severe immune-system disorders. During her tenure in the Texas House of Representatives Jones helped secure funding for the creation of the Texas Cord Blood Bank the first public cord blood bank in the state.
I am so proud of the parents the medical professionals and the hospital leaders in Houston who are making this program work" said Jones a mother of two and a native of San Antonio. Their hard work and dedication will help save lives and give doctors more tools to beat deadly and debilitating diseases. The collection of 300 units of cord blood is a wonderful achievement that we should all celebrate."
Expectant mothers and families interested in making a life-saving donation of cord blood in Texas are encouraged to visit
http://www.bloodntissue.org to learn more about the process and find facilities that partner with Texas Cord Blood Bank or offer other public cord blood donation options.
