Southeast Baptist joins network of hospitals collecting umbilical cord blood - San Antonio Business Journal:

ogarawo.wordpress.com
The Texas Cord Blood Bank, a divisionh of the South TexasBlood & Tissue began to accept umbilical cord blood from Southeastg Baptist Hospital. This is the second hospita in the to begin collecting blood afteer North Central Baptist began collections inMarch 2007. Methodist Hospita l is the other San Antonio area hospital thatcollectss blood. (McKenna Hospital in New Braunfels alsocollectsw blood.) In all, seven hospitals throughoutg the state are participating in the umbilical cord program.
"We are excited to be able to offet families delivering here at Southeast an opportunity to give such awonderfuol gift," says Margaret Kelley, an obstetricianj and gynecologist at Southeast Baptist. "The process of collecting umbilica cord blood is relatively easy for the physicianh and poses no risk to the mother or After healthy babiesare born, the umbilical cord is usuallhy discarded. However, cord blood is rich is blood-makin g cells that can be used to treat a number of potentialltyfatal diseases, such as, leukemia and disorders of the blood-making system like sickle-celkl anemia; severe immune-system disorders and genetif defects that affect the blood-making system.
"A a public cord blood bank, our goal is to collecr 6,000 cord blood units to ensure a quality supply for familiesin need," says Normah D. Kalmin, president, CEO and medical director of the South Texasa BloodTissue Center.