I've been meaning to post for a few weeks now and ask Kate's question -- we too are expecting in 2005 and have been wondering about cord blood banking. (By the way, my due date is just one day after Dana's -- May 2.) In my research thus far, it's been hard to put aside the aggressive marketing by the banking companies and just get to the simple facts.
I recall reading a while ago that cord blood isn't always sufficient for an adult patient -- and given that Stew is 6'5", I think he'd need more cord blood than most ... By the way, Kate, do you know what the gender of your baby is? I'm especially curious because we just found out we're having a girl (who will be a little sister to our 2-year-old son) ... and of the folks I've met through this group, I only know of Gleevec daughters (Dana and John's baby on the way, along with girls for Kimberly/Mike and Rob/Kelly). I remember reading several years ago that fathers with high-stress jobs (soldiers, firefighters) are slightly more prone to having daughters, as are those who go through rigorous fertility treatments (such as in-vitro). In each case, the hypothesis was that "girl sperm" is heartier than "boy sperm" and better withstood the stress. I'm wondering if that same theory could apply to fathers with CML -- and if so, if it's the CML itself or the Gleevec that would lead to increased odds of one gender or another. Of course, this is such a small pool to study -- I suspect all of this will stay theory for many years to come ... I also wanted thank those who answered my questions last year about the possibility of fathering a child while on Gleevec. Without the advice and anecdotes found here, I don't know that we would have decided to expand our family. The encouragement and information found here is invaluable. And finally, thank you Cheryl, Mark, and everybody else for your fascinating posts in the past several weeks (which contributed to my delay in posting -- there's been so much great info to digest first!). Amy wife to Stew, dx 11/2003 --- In [email protected], Dana Bonistalli <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Kate, > > Congratulations on your upcoming blessing! > > My husband (he is the one with CML) and I are also expecting in 2005. Our baby is due May 1. We have been struggling with this decision as well, and have spoken with several people about it. > > Currently, we do not plan to bank the cord blood. John's oncologist feels strongly that it would not be useful to him. Of course, there is always that possibility that the baby may need it some day, but as you have mentioned, it is very costly. We also hope and pray that with all the medical advances being made, the baby would never need her own cord blood. Of course, no one can tell the future. > > We also have done some research on donating the cord blood, but have been unable to find any bank that will take it if either of the parents has cancer. > > We still have time to completely make this decision, and that is why we continue to talk it over with several people. I wish you luck in your decision, and in the future! > > Hugs, > Dana > Wife to John, dx 4/4/03 > > Kate Blease <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My Husband and I are trying to decide whether we > should bank the cord blood from our baby who is due in > March. My husband was diagnosed with CML 3 years ago > and has been in remission on gleevec for the last 2.5 > years. The price for banking the cord blood is very > high, though I feel with my husband having CML, taking > this insurance could prove priceless. > > I would like to get other peoples views on this > subject and also if anyone on the list has done this. > > Thanks > > Kate > > ps. to follow up with Travs low blood cell counts, he > came off Gleevec for 5 days and they went back up to > normal :) > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $4.98 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/Q7_YsB/neXJAA/yQLSAA/8zSolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> New! Sign up for local CML support group meetings in your local community at http://cml.meetup.com Apply for Commercial Real Estate loans online and submit your deal to dozens of hungry lenders in just minutes. Loan programs for all types of business and commercial real estate. Apply anytime at http://realestatezoo.com CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Support List) --------------------------------- Part Of CMLHope.Com An International Community Of CML Patients For more information: http://cmlhope.com Post Message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To No Mail/Web: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Digest: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change To Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] List Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CML Group Web Site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CML/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
