Friday, February 26, 2010

So, I might have found my calling

As I have posted many times before, my frustration is at an all time high with this feeling of helpless to help these babies dying of cancer. I am kept awake by their haunting stories. My mind is constantly being tugged to sympathize with this mother who is losing her baby and my deep desire to reach through my computer screen and sit for hours and just cry with her.

I am constantly thinking of what I can do to offer some kind of help. Whether it be donating my time, donating my resources, dontating money...but none seemed to be of enough impact that would satisfy me. I need a cause that would impact not just one person, but many families. And I think I found it.

So, I was talking to a colleague yesterday and we were talking about sweet Layla Grace and all that is happening with this sweet child. And it was her who actually started talking about the donating of cord blood. Then and there was an ah-ha moment.

The two times I have given birth, I was sent stuff in the mail about storing my cord blood. And it seemed like a great idea, but it is soooo expensive to do it and, unfortunately, the cost deterred me. Then I heard about a Dr. who suggested to his patient that they donate the cord blood that way, if someone else needs it, it is there. The goal would be that all mother's would donate the blood, therefore not needing to pay the storage fee and then there would be lots more cord blood to go around.

It seems like such a no-brainer. Cord blood can help with so many different diseaes. Here is the link the the Cord Blood Registery.

While I know that are many, many pros to this, as with anything, there are also cons. But I believe that the pros outweigh the cons.

So, I will be embarking on a new journey to encourage new mom's to donate their cord blood.

I honestly, have no idea how I am going to start and how I am going to get the word out to millions of people. But I am up for the challenge.

Will you help me?

6 comments:

Unknown said...

That is a great idea! I too was deterred by the cost of storing my kids' cord blood. I will definitely be one to encourage pregnant moms to donate their child's cord blood as well as my own if I am blessed again.

Jenny said...

Great idea. I donated my cord blood, 2 out of 3 pregnancies. They wouldn't take Lily's because she had a 2 vessel cord rather than 3, which is the normal. Some hospitals don't do it and and some are really strict and won't take preterm cord blood, or they only take it on Tues/Thurs births etc. Also some moms are against donating for science for moral reasons(i.e. stem cell research) but they may not realize that donating can also help other babies, not just for science. I'll help you, though I'm also not sure how...definitely need to do more research and understand how and what can help.

I feel your pain, and I'm glad you are finding a way to feel that you are doing something.

Jenn said...

Amy & Jenny, thank you so much for helping me out on this. Not sure exactly where to go from here, but I am on a mission ;)

Jenny, awesome that you donated yours! I wish someone would have told me that I could have donated mine. I never even knew.

Thanks Ladies you are awesome!

Jenny said...

http://littledivatutus.com/
Thought you might like to see this. I'm ordering 2 for my 2 girls for Easter. So cute. Spring photo shoot here we come. And helping Layla's family too!

Meredith said...

Count me in! I'll definitely consider donating with Baby #2 (currently unfertilized, BTW) and will post something on my blog about it, if you'll write it. :)

Great blog, Jen!!

Meredith

Jenn said...

@Meredith....thanks! This is awesome! I will definitely write something up and send it to you.

Thanks for helping get the word out!

Best, Jenn