July is Cord Blood Awareness Month in Arizona bringing awareness to a life-saving public cord blood banking program.
Thousands of patients are diagnosed with a blood cancer or other life-threatening disease each year in the United States. Umbilical cord blood is a prime source of blood stem cells which can become a potential cure for those patients fighting life-threatening blood cancers and other diseases.
“This proclamation highlights a special program that provides a lifeline to patients in need,” said Arizona Governor Douglas Ducey. “The generous gift of cord blood increases the odds of survival for cancer patients and gives researchers a chance to find a cure for genetic disease.”
“After the umbilical cord is cut, and before it is discarded, families can donate the cord blood to our national registry,” said Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. “It doesn’t hurt baby or mom, yet the donation could benefit someone with the potential gift of life.”
The public cord blood banking program enters donations from Arizona into the national registry to expand its life saving reach. The program is funded by the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission and partners with several Arizona hospitals including the Maricopa Integrated Health System, Abrazo Central Campus (formerly Phoenix Baptist Hospital), St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and Tucson Medical Center as well as the non-profit Save the Cord Foundation.
There is no cost to families donating to the public cord blood program. Expectant parents interested in learning more about cord blood donation visit our Arizona Cord Blood Program web page.