Mothers and Babies Honored for as DeKalb Medical and National Cord Blood Program Urge Parents

Mothers and infants who donated cord blood at birth will be honored as DeKalb Medical, one of Georgia’s largest maternity centers, and the National Cord Blood Program (NCBP), the world’s first and largest public cord blood bank, urge more parents to donate cord blood,

DeKalb Medical has partnered with the NCBP for the collection of umbilical cord blood stem cells. Attending the event will be mothers with their infants who have donated umbilical cord blood, sharing their stories on giving life and hope to patients worldwide.

Every year, there are an estimated 7000 patients in the U.S. alone, many of them ethnic minorities, who cannot find a matched source of stem cells. The U.S. national inventory of cord blood units for transplantation does not reflect the ethnic diversity of our communities, and there is a national effort underway to increase cord blood donations from minority populations. With Atlanta’s ethnically diverse population and well-informed, generous, delivering mothers, DeKalb Medical and the NCBP will increase the national cord blood inventory, providing stem cell grafts for patients in need and an opportunity for mothers to donate a life-giving resource.

Interview and photo opportunities are available following press conference.

Guests are invited to tour the Labor and Delivery Suite.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011

TIME: 11:00 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M.

PLACE: DEKALB MEDICAL

BOBBIE BAILEY TOWER AUDITORIUM, 1st FLOOR

2701 NORTH DECATUR ROAD

DECATUR, GEORGIA, 30033

[Cord blood is available from NCBP as a Food and Drug Administration-licensed product (HEMACORD™) and through clinical research studies under an FDA Investigational New Drug exemption.]