Jump to content

Recommended Posts

There was a most moving item on today's One Show about stem cell donation, and how difficult it can be to find a match.

If you go to to the Anthony Nolan Trust website you will see how to register your interest.

It seems a wonderful thing to do, and it would be a lovely way of asking your baby's birth extra significant.

I'm going to echo this. When I gave birth I didn't know very much about the potential of donated cord blood. I now have a friend with a very serious form of leukemia for which stem cell therapy, based on cord blood, was one of the possible treatment options. Her doctors advised her to take a different course, which hopefully will be successful and allow her to see her young son grow up, but I'll always regret not having done something so simple as help turn something that otherwise would be treated as medical waste into something that might save someone's life. (I am on the bone marrow registry and would encourage others to do that as well, although being a bone marrow donor requires much more of a person than donating cord blood or placenta, so it isn't to be done quite as lightly).


Of the local hospitals, it looks like Kings is the only one that's participating in the program, and I very much hope they're making information about the program easily available to any woman planning on giving birth there.

The leaflets are in nearly every letter you get from Kings right now, maternity wise. I'm pregnant with my second and really want to donate but also want to delay cord clamping at birth this time round. Can you do this and then still donate? I've got a feeling you cant. Has anyone done it?
GinaG3 - I asked for delayed clamping at recent elcs and no one said it was incompatible with stem cell donation (although neither did anyone specifically confirm the two could go hand in hand). However, as it happened baby had a true knot in his cord so delayed clamping wasn't possible anyway (although donation was).

Kings and The Royal Free are the only London hospitals working with the Anthony Nolan Trust at the moment (it's not cos the others didn't want to it's because when the cord blood donation project was set up it had limited funds so could only be established in 7 hospitals). It's been such successful project that it would be wonderful to see it extended to other London units. You have to be giving birth in one of those hospitals to donate, so sadly if you're at Tommies or lewisham then you can't - though you can organise to do it yourself privately, but speak to your hospital as many units wil only work with particular companies. And it's expensive. You can't do it if you home birth (planed or unplanned). You can delay cord clamping and still donate, but the possibility of them being able to draw an adequate amount for donation is reduced - the benefit though is that's because those precious stem cells have gone into your baby - where nature meant them to be - to do whatever work nature meant them to do :D


Alternatively, if you're St Georges or UCH then you can donate via the NHS cord blood bank. http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/cordblood/ It's a lovely, altruistic thing to do as T&G's story illustrates.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Here's the part of march46's linked-to Southwark News article pertaining to Southwark Council. "Southwark Council were also contacted for a response. "Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste said: “One of Southwark’s key priorities is to create a healthy environment for our residents. “To achieve this we closely monitor legislation and measures that influence air pollution – our entire borough apart from inland waterways is designated as a Smoke Control Area, and we also offer substantial provision for electric vehicles to promote alternative fuel travel options and our Streets for People strategy. “We as a council support the work of Mums for Lungs and recognise the health and environmental impacts of domestic solid fuel burning, particularly from wood-burning appliances. “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution.  “This work is being undertaken in collaboration with other London boroughs as part of the pan-London Wood Burning Project, which aims to harmonise enforcement approaches and share best practice across the capital.” ETA: And here's a post I made a few years ago, with tangential relevance.  https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/278140-early-morning-drone-flying/?do=findComment&comment=1493274  
    • The solicitor is also the Executor. Big mistake, but my Aunt was very old, and this was the Covid years and shortly after so impossible to intervene and get a couple of close relatives to do this.  She had no children so this is the nephews and nieces. He is a single practitioner, and most at his age would have long since retired - there is a question over his competence Two letters have already gone essentially complaining - batted off and 'amusingly' one put the blame on us. There are five on our side, all speaking to each other, and ideally would work as a single point of contact.  But he has said that this is not allowed - we've all given approval to act on each others behalf. There are five on her late husband's side, who have not engaged with us despite the suggestion to work as a team, There is one other, who get's the lion's share, the typicical 'friend', but we are long since challenging the will. I would like to put another complaint together that he has not used modern collective communication (I expect that he is incapable) which had seriously delayed the execution of the will.   I know many in their 80s very adept with smart phones so that is not an ageist comment. The house has deteriorated very badly, with cold, damp and a serious leak.  PM me if you want to see the dreadful condition that it is now in. I would also question why if the five of us are happy to work together why all of us need to confirm in writing.             The house was lived in until Feb 23, and has been allowed to get like this.
    • Isn’t a five yearly electricity safety certificate one of the things the landlord must give for a legal tenancy?
    • Very sorry to hear this, but surely the landlord is responsible for fixing the electrics?  Surely they must be insured for things like this? I hope you get it all sorted out quickly.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...