I started a similar thread back in May as we were looking into this. Myself and DH have both lost DS's to cancer, so this was something very close to our hearts. We looked at a few different companies offering Stem Cell collection and Storage and have decided to go with Smart Cells. I've paid an initial deposit (reduced rate of £50, normally £75) and the balance of £1200 is due once the cells have sucessfully been collected and stored. If the collection doesn't happen for any reason or storage goes wrong, you don't have to pay the remaining balance. The unit is based in Plymouth, the collection kit is very straight forward, my midwife looked at it and said it's the same precedure they use for resus negative mums, so all the doctors and midwives will know exactly how to do it. You are given a temperature controlled packaging box to send it off in and it's collected by DHL, all paid for. All you have to do is remember the collection kit in your hospital bag and have someone to call DHL for you to come and get it. Smart Cells policy is that once the child is 18, it is then up to them what happens to the cells. After the 25 year period, if they have not needed the cells, there are options. 1) donate the cells, either to a needy recipient or to further research. 2) pay additional storage fees and keep the cells longer (if they have found this is possible). It seemed a good deal to go with, especially knowing they want little money up front and there are no annual fees for storage. The price you see is the price you pay for 25 years peace of mind.
They are finding more and more things Stem Cells can be used for, even Arthritis. Hopefully, awareness of this procedure will be raised and more people can give their children the security of knowing if the worst ever happened, their own stem cells are there for them.
I also have a thread appealing for help for Bethany. She was first diagnosed with Leukaemia age 3, the same time my DS was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, 6 years ago. She has relapsed and a bone marrow donor is desperatly being sought. Unfortunately, she has a rare tissue type and finding a match is proving very hard. If her stem cells has been stored at birth, she would not need a donor. The perfect match would be there. So many children's and adult's life's are lost because matches cannot be found or donor products are rejected.
We know 26 children that died of Cancer, just on one ward, in one hospital and the space of 2 years. All the parents had one thing in common. We never thought it would happen to our kids.
Stem Cell collection, although expensive, could save your child's life if this ever happened to them.
What price can you put on that?
I hope you go for it.
Check out Smart Cells website www.smartcells.com
Smart Cells International Ltd
56-58 Bloombury Street
London
WC1B 3QT
Tel :020 7436 9966