A Little Piece of the Big Picture

I've been working at my new job as a quality control inspector for a medical supply company for only three short weeks and I can now say I enjoy what I do for a living. My job prevents product failure in a medical device that processes cord blood. This is important due to the fact that, with cord blood samples, you only get one shot. If the medical device happens to fail, they lose part, or all of the sample. You have no idea which child will end up needing their cord blood in the future. If you lose one sample, you essentially lose a child's chance at a better life. 

"When Chloe was one year old, her parents, Jenny and Ryan, received news that she had suffered from an in-utero stroke before birth, resulting in a diagnosis of right-sided Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Fortunately the Levines had banked Chloe’s cord blood with CBR, which allowed her to undergo an infusion of her own stem cells as part of a study at Duke University.

Prior to her treatment, Chloe held her hand in a tight fist, was not holding a bottle, couldn’t push herself up, and was not able to crawl like other babies her age, instead shuffling across the room. Within four days of Chloe’s infusion, the Levines began to see dramatic changes in their little girl. Chloe, who was nearly paralyzed on her right side, began to lose the rigidity and stiffness in her body, could lift both arms over her head, and began running and jumping. Today, Fox News reports that Chloe’s progress is still evident: "Her life is completely normal, she doesn’t drag her right foot, she can use her right hand," Jenny Levine said. 'She rides a bike, a scooter…we’re taking her skiing this year. She’s fabulous.'"


The following is a list of some of the diseases that have been treated with cord blood and other sources of the same type of stem cell, like bone marrow. For inherited genetic conditions, the child will not be able to use his or her own stem cells. A matched sibling's stem cells would be the first choice.


Cancers

Acute Leukemia
Chronic Leukemia
High-Risk Solid Tumors
Hodgkin & Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Blood Disorders

Beta Thalassemia
Diamond-Blackfan Anemia
Fanconi Anemia
Severe Aplastic Anemia
Sickle Cell Disease

Immune Disorders

Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Hystiocytic Disorders
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency
Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Diseases
Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Metabolic Disorders
Krabbe Disease
Hurler Syndrome
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy
Sanfilippo Syndrome

Playing a small part in bettering a child's life is leaps and bounds away from being a cashier. I'm absolutely okay with that.

If I had 8 arms, it would increase my productivity at my new job. :)