December 17, 2008
RAILROAD COMMISSIONER ELIZABETH AMES JONES URGES EXPECTANT MOMS TO GIVE "GIFT OF LIFE"
Texas Governor Rick Perry declares December Cord Blood Awareness Month


Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones today urged local expectant mothers to give the gift of life by donating the umbilical cord blood that is left over after birth.  Commissioner Jones visited Medical City Dallas Hospital to raise awareness about the important health benefits and life-saving potential of cord blood.
 
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has declared December Texas Cord Blood Awareness Month.
 
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.

Cord blood is vital to saving lives," said Jones, a mother of two and native of San Antonio.  "At a time of the year so focused on the miracles of life and the spirit of giving, it's fitting we talk about one way families can make an immense difference in the lives of other families."
 
On Wednesday, Jones joined leaders with Medical City and the Texas Cord Blood Bank for a tour of the Dallas facility.  The Dallas hospital is one of 10 hospitals in the state that partner with the TCBB to collect cord blood donations.  Jones brought with her an official proclamation from Gov. Perry declaring December "Cord Blood Awareness Month."
 
In his proclamation, Governor Perry called the donation of umbilical cord blood, "a rare opportunity to do something good and important without sacrifice or difficulty on the part of the giver."
 
Hospitals around the state have been collecting cord blood in harmless and pain-free post-birth procedures since 2006 and, to date have collected more than 12,000 donations of life-saving umbilical cord blood for the statewide repository.
 
"In just over two years, moms delivering at Medical City have donated nearly 2,000 units of cord blood to the Texas Cord Blood Bank," shared Britt Barrett, president and chief executivie officer at Medical City.  "We see first-hand the life-saving potential of cord blood among our transplant patients and are hopeful that donated units will continue to change the lives of patients across the state of Texas."
 
Each year, thousands of people in the United States are diagnosed with fatal blood-related diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and deficiencies of the immune system.  A majority of such cases are treated through bone marrow transplants, yet approximately 10,000 to 15,000 Americans each year who need a bone marrow transplant are unable to find a suitable donor.
 
"Cord blood - which is also rich in stem cells - provides another option," said Norman Kalmin, M.D., President/CEO and Medical Director for Texas Cord Blood Bank.  "A cord blood unit doesn't have to match a patient's tissue type as closely as donated bone marrow does... that means greater hope for life, for survival, for more patients."
 
Kalmin, called the cord blood bank program the "ultimate recycling project," noting that of the 4 million births in the United States each year, more than 90 percent of the stem cells in cord blood are discarded as medical waste.
 
"We want to change those statistics in Texas so that we can provide this precious and valuable resource as a medical alternative to those in our state who need it." Kalmin said.
 
Cord blood recipient Leslie Lucio also attended the news conference.  Lucio, a teenager, is now cancer-free after receiving a cord blood transplant and encouraged all  expectant mothers to donate their cord blood.

"The doctors gave me a very little chance to live but I am here today because someone gave this precious gift," Lucio said.  "The donation is worth it to save someone's life."
 
Added Jones, "Before our babies are born, the umbilical cord is a literal lifeline... the blood and stem cells it contains can keep giving life and hope to someone else, so as we celebrate the spirit of giving and the miracle of life this month, make a difference - and consider donation of cord blood when your baby is born."
 
Expectant moms 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.