Welcoming a child into the world is celebrated, by most couples, as one of the happiest times of their lives. In preparation for the arrival of a beautiful little baby, first time expecting moms and dads-to-be have a lot on their mind, and often wonder the decisions they’re making now, will be the right ones in years to come.
It was this overwhelming feeling of responsibility and obligation that moved Cells for Life client, Kevin Gamble and his wife Jamie, to consider banking their baby’s cord blood.
Seeking knowledge, finding peace of mind
Two years ago, Kevin’s wife Jamie, was pregnant with their first child, Colin. After conducting an enormous amount of research online in preparation for Colin’s arrival, Kevin stumbled upon a website on cord blood banking. After reading about the healing benefits of cord blood stem cells, Kevin was convinced that cord blood banking was the right choice for him and his family.
Jamie however, reluctant to make any quick discussions, wanted to know more about the cord blood banking process and what exactly it meant for her and her baby.
So, Kevin and Jamie attended a Cells for Life information session taking place nearby, and after chatting with other expectant couples and hearing about the benefits of cord blood banking from a registered nurse, Jamie was not only convinced – she was adamantly in support of the idea.
“It’s a good insurance policy. If something does happen to me, or his new brother or sister, than we have this option,” says Jamie, a choice that parents who rely on finding a match using the public cord blood banks are often denied.
After making the decision to bank their baby’s cord blood, Jamie and Kevin decided to sit down and talk financials. “The cost was a little prohibitive at the time, but it wasn’t prohibitive enough that we weren’t going to find it one way or another,” recalls Kevin.
While the upfront cost of cord blood banking can be intimidating, the annual storage fee of only $125 make the cost of banking your baby’s cord blood much more affordable in the long-run. “That’s what we spend on coffee and tea in a year, so that wasn’t hard,” says Kevin.
Peace of Mind For Their Family’s Future
Unfortunately, the Gambles, like many, know from the experiences of loved ones how quickly life can change. “Kevin had a friend who passed away back in College from Leukemia,” revealed Jamie, whose own mother was also diagnosed with breast cancer.
The Gambles also recently witnessed close friends live every parent’s 
nightmare as their son, born at only 24 weeks, spent a year in hospital, fighting for his life. Like all parents, sharing in the incredible pain of family loss and suffering is not something that either Kevin or Jamie, now 27 weeks into her second pregnancy, want their children to experience.
“It’s a good insurance policy. If something does happen to me, or his new brother or sister, than we have this option,” says Jamie, a choice that parents who rely on finding a match using the public cord blood banks are often denied.
Kevin’s advice to soon-to-be parents on cord blood banking? “If you’re sitting on the fence about it, figure out a way to make it happen.”
When asked if they would recommend cord blood banking to prospective parents, both admitted to bringing up cord blood banking the moment they find out one of their friends is expecting.
Kevin’s advice to soon-to-be parents on cord blood banking? “If you’re sitting on the fence about it, figure out a way to make it happen.”