Every parent wants to give their child the best possible start in life, but for some, that also means planning for the unexpected. 

As part of our work with our partner LMRUK we support eligible families to store their baby’s umbilical cord blood through the Model Cell Biobank service.

Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells, which can be used to treat blood cancers, genetic disorders, and potentially even emerging conditions like diabetes, cerebral palsy, and Parkinson’s disease in the future. Stem cell banking is increasingly recognised as a form of biological health insurance, especially for families with a history of serious illness.

To continue to mark Cord Blood Awareness Month this July, we’re sharing the personal experiences of parents who used our service and their reasons for choosing to store this potentially life-saving resource.

It just made sense to protect our baby: Natalie’s story, South Wales

For Natalie Harrop and her partner Gary from Newport, South Wales, storing their baby Arthur’s stem cells was a decision driven by personal loss.

“We didn’t really know anything about the procedure,” said Natalie, “but having a friend at work die from Leukaemia and another diagnosed while I was pregnant made me more aware and I found out about what was involved.”

Arthur was born at The Grange University Hospital in October 2023. Thanks to the Model Cell Biobank service, a trained phlebotomist attended the birth and safely collected the cord blood.

“It was really straightforward,” Natalie said. “I really don’t know why we aren’t storing babies’ stem cells as a matter of course – it seems such a simple yet important thing to do.”

Read more: Cord Blood Awareness Month: Why It Matters

We didn’t want to take any chances: Luna’s story, Hackney, North London

For Luna Sage, a new parent from Hackney, the decision was deeply personal. Luna’s mother had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and the family had struggled to find a matching stem cell donor.

“When my mother fell ill, she was told that she would need to have a stem cell transplant as part of her treatment. We checked but no one in the family was a match so we had to find a donor to help treat her,” Luna said.

Luna gave birth to baby Dream in spring 2024 and arranged to bank his cord blood through the Model Cell Biobank.

“I was in labour for 39 hours – so it was good to have it all organised and in place. It went really smoothly and didn’t cause any stress or interference after the birth – the phlebotomist who collected the stem cells was very kind and knowledgeable.”

Even without a known history of illness, they encourage others to consider the option: “I would really recommend storing stem cells from umbilical cord blood to others.  Even if you don’t have any family history of blood cancer it gives you a ‘plan b’ should someone fall ill – and you never know what might happen in the future.”

Read more: Cord Blood Collection: Phlebotomist Answers

It’s a safety net we didn’t have before: Rozgar’s story, South East London

Rozgar only learned about stem cell banking during her third pregnancy, when she saw a poster at her local maternity unit. Her older children, now aged 17 and 12, were born before she knew this was even an option.

This time, she wanted things to be different.

“It is like having a second plan in place if something should go wrong later – extra protection against ill-health,” Rozgar explains.

Heizan was born via C-section in May 2024, and the cord blood was collected by an independent midwife. “It was very straightforward,” she added. 

Read more: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions about Stem Cell Storage

“It’s protection for our whole family”: Why cord blood banking matters

The stem cells found in umbilical cord blood are an incredibly valuable medical resource, not just for the child they came from, but also for siblings and close family members who may be a match.

Through the Model Cell Biobank, LMRUK helps fund and facilitate this process for families who meet certain criteria, including a history of blood cancer or financial hardship. 

Clinical trials across the globe continue to explore the potential of cord blood stem cells in regenerative medicine and advanced therapies. While we all hope never to need them, having them safely stored gives families more choices and more time.

To learn more about the Model Cell Biobank or to find out if you’re eligible for support, visit: https://lmruk.org/model-cell-biobank-service/