Banking on the Future
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 01:17 p.m., July 8, 2008
Updated 01:17 p.m., July 8, 2008
Photo by Adam Vogler
Newborn Talen Hart is pictured with his mother, Nicole Gould, left, and his grandmother Patti Lipson. After he was born, his family banked his placenta and umbilical cord in case he needs stems cells for medical treatments later in his life.
Talen Hart came into the world with a bonus attached — and his mother has banked that bonus as a hedge for the family’s future health needs.
When Talen, the son of Nicole Gould and Richard Hart, was born last month at Newman Regional Health, his umbilical cord and placenta were saved so stem cells could be harvested and kept to use for a growing number of medical treatments.
Talen’s cord and placenta were banked with LifeBank USA, whose headquarters are in Cedar Knolls, N.J. The company is one of several that have been banking stem cells for families long-term.
Stem cells can replenish, or reproduce, themselves, as well as change into other types of cells, including red and white blood cells and platelets, according to information from LifeBank.
“This enables stem cells to replace other cells in the body that are abnormal, weakened, or destroyed by disease,” the LifeBank brochure explained.
The stem cells taken from Talen’s cord and placenta are an exact match for him and may also be compatible for other family members.
“This is just throw-away parts,” Talen’s grandmother, Patti Lipson, said of the birth remnants that usually are considered medical waste. She considers harvesting stem cells to be a bit like health insurance — a good investment because “you never know what life’s going to throw at you.”
The stem cells’ value to her and her family could be significant.
Stem cells have been shown to be effective in treating some cancers, such as acute lymphoblastic and myelogenous leukemias. More than 8,000 patients with about 80 different diseases have been successfully treated with cord blood stem cell transplants, the brochure stated.
Research is underway on stem cell treatments for blood disorders, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, immune-system problems and diseases that families are genetically predisposed to contract. The latter use interests Lipson and her daughter because Lipson’s father has Parkinson’s disease and her mother has Alzheimer’s. Since both conditions appear to have some genetic connections within families, Talen’s relatives are hoping his stem cells could help provide a cure.
“There’s no point in not doing it,” Gould said. “Even if we decided not to keep them because of the money, we’d donate them anyway” for research.
Stem cells seem to be reversing the effects of Parkinson’s in tests underway in Europe, Lipson said.
“Right now, they’re doing some testing with stem cells on Alzheimer’s,” she added.
Lipson learned about the potential for stem cell treatments in an article she read in a grandparents’ magazine. The research on diseases her parents have made her eager to learn more. She talked with Gould about collecting the cord and placenta to hold as a potential life-saver for Talen and, maybe even Gould and her sister, Jennifer, if they were suitable matches for Talen’s cells.
The family agreed harvesting the cells would be a good idea, although they had a different outlook on who the patient would be.
“’No, we want to save your life,’” Lipson recalled their saying. “... It’s too late to save my parents, but it’s not too late to save somebody else in the family.”
The odds that the stem cells would be needed for treatment are about 1 in 400, the Lifebank brochure stated; the odds increase with a family history of certain blood disorders or cancers.
Lipson’s father had undergone surgery to stop the trembling and other symptoms that define Parkinson’s disease. Unfortunately, a post-surgery complication left him with some brain damage.
“My Dad’s Parkinson’s medicine is $600 a month,” Lipson said.
The cost for banking the stem cells depends upon the company that processes and stores the cord and/or the placenta.
Gould and Lipson studied three companies that have years of experience in the process — Lifebank, Viacord, and Cord Blood Registry — and decided Lifebank was the best fit for their family.
Lifebank USA’s enrollment and storage fees vary according to whether one or both are stored. One-time payments are accepted, as are monthly or annual installments; some of the short-term plans are interest-free. The cost of enrollment is more than $3,000 and the annual storage is $150 to $250, depending on what has been stored. In the long run, that could be beneficial financially, in addition to the possible health benefits.
“If you think about it, it’s worth the money,” Gould said. “You’re going to spend it anyhow on doctors, medication.”
The women were amazed by the potential stem cells seem to hold for treating once-incurable or debilitating diseases.
“I have friends that have illnesses right now that they’re using this for,” Lipson said.
A friend with Crohn’s disease would have another treatment option, she said, if the friend had access to the right stem cells.
“And it would cure her,” Lipson said. “They’re already using it for that now. It just is amazing what it can do.”
Gould had made arrangements in advance with Dr. Pam Harrison to collect the cord and placenta, and the hospital was alerted to what would take place when the baby was born.
Talen arrived on June 26, weighing 7 pounds, 13.8 ounces, 19.5 inches long — and holding more than a billion stem cells in his umbilical cord alone, according to information given to Gould the following week. Harvesting the placenta is more time-consuming, but it was expected to contain double that number or more.
Talen’s cord and placenta were collected at Newman, where umbilical cords have been collected for stem-cell preservation for about two years.
Lipson took the collection kit to the hospital, where the staff studied the company’s harvesting requirements and processed the cord and placenta according to instructions.
“Ideally, we would like to have all that information up-front, before people come in and deliver, because there are numerous places to bank those things, and they all have different collection techniques,” said Beau Howe, director of the Women’s Life Center, Obstetrics, Post-Partum, Labor and Nursery department at Newman.
Howe said the staff needs to have the information in advance to handle the process correctly.
“The cord blood we put in blood tubes,” Howe said. “When you get that blood, you can FedEx that to where it needs to go.”
The tubes usually have an additive to preserve the blood and the tubes are double-bagged and boxed to ensure safe travel.
“We don’t charge for doing that,” Howe said. “We collect it and send it off.”
Talen’s placenta, the first saved at Newman, needed to be picked up by LifeBank within about 24 hours, Gould said. Until then, it was stored in Gould’s room at the hospital.
“They came to the room, picked it up and then took it away,” Gould said.
Howe also is intrigued by the potential for treatment with harvested family stem cells. Her mother had to produce her own stem cells as a treatment for cancer.
“You can produce your own stem cells,” Howe said. “It’s not a pleasant procedure because you do have to go through chemotherapy” before the stem cells can be harvested and transplanted.
She views stem cells as something of an investment for future medical care.
“If you have any type of disease in your family that stem cells could help, hindsight being what it is, it would be worth your while to bank some because the cost is astronomical for some of these diseases just for treatment, not even a cure,” Howe said. “If someone would tell you today, you spent $3,500 when you were born to cure your leukemia, I would do it.”
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
Posted by tillie (anonymous) on July 9, 2008 at 5:47 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by sociallyconsious (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tillie as a friend of the family I would like to clarify just a few things.
First the article really has nothing to do with WED/UNWED mothers, but with one families desire to use current medical technology to try and save another family member from the suffering that Talen's great grandparents are experencing due to incurrable illnesses.
Secondly, they choose to do the article because they are a firm believer in sharing information if it can help someone. By sharing their story someone else might read it, decide to bank stem cells and save a family members life.
Thirdly, there are programs available where you can bank your cord blood for little or no charge if a family member is already ill and you are wanting to use the stem cells. It is also less expensive if you only bank the cord blood. The family choose to make the investment in the company they did so they could get the maximum amount of stem cells available since it is very likely they will need it someday.
Lastly, even if they had not banked the cells for personal use, they were going to donate them to a public bank so that some person who needed them could get them.
Currently there are around 10 banking services around and each have their own pricing, payment plans, and options. They just used Life Bank because it was the only company that banked cord blood and placenta stem cells allowing them to get the most cells possible. Another company may meet someone elses needs better.
So if you know someone who is pregnant and not interested in banking the blood for their own family, it would be great if they would look into donation. This way they could save another life.
Posted by emporialifer (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I probably shouldn't be after all the comments I've read online, but I'm shocked by the rude and tactless comment by tillie. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the whole stem cell topic on here, but I will applaud her for choosing to have the baby and not have an abortion like so many other people do.
Posted by OutsiderJ (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think tillie sounds like a braying jackass (and it takes one to know one, we can spot our own). The potential benefits of stem cells is not only cutting edge, but also life saving. I think this family made a sound decision and applaud their bravery for sharing what is otherwise a very private matter.
Posted by CassieJo (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations, Richard & Nicole!!! It's nice to see that you are looking out for your families future!
Tillie --- now days Marriage is considered "Old School". If you can't say anything nice about such a positive thing then dont say anything at all!
Posted by esuhornets (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess since CassieJo thinks marriage is considered "Old School" lets just go out and get all of the women in Emporia knocked up since that's "New School"
Thanks Cassie that just helps remind me of everything that is going wrong with this country. Morals go out the window and next thing you know Obama will be our president. Sounds like things are getting bad time to move to Canada.
Posted by Pollyanna (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHOA....Cassie Jo! Wait a minute! "Old School?" I must have missed that when I took my vows 11 years ago. I USED to be considered rather hip, too.. haha. Granted, marriage is at times, no walk in the park and our county's divorce rate of about 50% prove that. However, if it's so old school, why are churches booked nearly year round? Why are gays fighting so hard for their rights to marry?
Please don't think I'm defending or sticking up for Tillie's rude comments, rather defending the sanctity of a healthy marriage. Healthy being the proper word..
Posted by esuhornets (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 2:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just want to make the point that I'm not defending tillie. I wouldn't have said anything until CassieJo "Old School" comment.
Posted by tillie (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nobody is defending ME!!! WAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by tillie (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And, "socially conscious," since you ARE a "friend of the family," is what I first said NOT TRUE???? Hmmmmm???
Posted by sociallyconsious (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey everyone lets take a minute and get back on point, this article is about- SAVING LIVES.
Yes, Nicole and Richard are not married. Talen was an unexpected miracle, which they decided had the right to be born (not aborted). Getting married or not married in this situation is not an easy decision. Personnally I applaud them for not getting married JUST because Talen came into the picture.
I do believe in marriage, and I do not consider it old school. In an ideal world, you get married and have babies. However, I am sure glad that when unexpected events happen our society no longer FORCES the woman to marry the daddy to be. Divorces are messy and hard on a child. It is much better for them to let their relationship take the normal course which may or may not lead to marriage while raising this blessing from GOD, then to do something neither one may be ready for to only split later.
Posted by sociallyconsious (anonymous) on July 10, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tillie in response to your question towards me @ 3:06 pm,
The article was one to help people, and to discuss the potential life saving cures of stem cells. Not to discuss whether she was wed or unwed, or to be so crass. Your whole statement of "Nice. Another UNwed mother story. Good thing HER mother is married to a wealthy man so she can foot the cord bank bill!" appeared to have a mean and negative attitude. I guess my guestion to you is what your problem with this family, saving someone you love life, preserving your childs stem cells for the future?
Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on July 15, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
At the request of Talen's family, the comment section has been reopened on this article. Both Nicole and Patti say they have had a number of people ask them questions about banking stem cells and its potential benefits. They would like to be able to share information through this forum.
The original comments to this point were removed, however, because they turned into personal attacks and moral arguments that had nothing to do with stem cells. Any comments that venture into those areas again will be removed.
Gwen Larson
Managing Editor
Posted by create (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was very interested in this article, and I'm glad to hear it has been reposted for the sake of the information it contains. All too often we hear of these types of life-saving procedures, but that they are only possible in big city or university hospitals. Now we know that what appears to be a sophisticated procedure has taken place locally, and that it is indeed possible for us who live hours away from big hospitals.
My family is afflicted with a skin condition that until recently, has been incurable. Now we have learned from a short news item on Paul Harvey's broadcast last week that the new ones born can be helped with stem cells. I don't know how it works, but there seems to have been a certain amount of synchronicity to have heard the Paul Harvey story and then within days, this article.
Thank you, Nicole and Patti, for deciding to share this information. I'd like you to know that you've made a difference in my family. My daughter in Chicago is planning to contact the University of Minnessota Hospital where the Paul Harvey story took its information. I e-mailed her this story because it provides yet more information for our research.
Congratulations on your new baby. God Bless you all.
Posted by grandmapatti (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you create for your comments. This is the reason Nicole and I choose to open up and tell our story.
As I watch two parents with terrible illnesses which we do not have a cure for, I worry. As I looked into stem cells and specifically Umbilical Stem Cells, I found hope for my children and others who have or may get incurable illnesses.
Since the article Nicole, myself and other family members have received numerous questions and that is why I asked Gwen to again open the comment section. Although I am not an expert, I will be very open about our experiences in an effort to help you or someone you know.
One of the main questions we have received is concerning cost. I would like to restate something the article touched on but did not go into detail. This is that all of the 3 companies which we checked into offer monthly payment plans. The monthly amount was as low as $44.00, which made this an affordable option for most people. In addition they also offer free services if there is an immediate need and income hinderences.
With Talen we were able to bank over 1 Billion stem cells from his umbilical cord, and just under 1 Billion from his placenta. In information from the LifeBank USA website, the average amount of stem cells used in a transplant is 800-900 Million. So Talen could theoretically save the lives of two family members.
Please if you have questions either post them or email me through Emporia Gazette by clicking on my user name.
Thank you for allowing me to share with you.
Posted by create (anonymous) on July 15, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Patti, The financial information is very much worth knowing. I had no idea it could be so affordable. That's certainly good news about the number of stem cells recovered through Talen. Wonderful news. Thank you again. If I need further info, I'll e-mail you. Bless you.
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)