HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers host plaque-unveiling ceremony to raise awareness for cord blood donations
Press release from HCA Florida North Florida Hospital
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers hosted a special plaque-unveiling ceremony today to honor past cord blood donations, the physicians who advocate for these life-saving donations, and to recognize the impact that cord blood donations at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital have made not just in the United States, but around the world.
According to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born. It is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which can develop into all types of blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. These stem cells are essential for treating numerous medical conditions, particularly those affecting the blood and immune systems.
Sometimes, cord blood is disposed after birth if the mother doesn’t provide direction on its use. Among the speakers at the event was David Stewart, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist who advocates for and collects cord blood donations at HCA Florida North Florida Hospital.
“Patient who choose to donate do so out of their own conviction. At the moment of bringing new life into the world, these mothers also have the chance to save the life of someone they’ve never met,” said David Stewart, M.D. “By combining the efforts of LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank, selfless donors, and a dedicated team of nurses, technicians, and providers, processed cord blood can become a life-saving miracle for many patients.”
HCA Florida North Florida Hospital launched its partnership with LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank in 1997, achieving a major milestone in 2001 with the shipment of its first unit for clinical transplant. Since then, the hospital has become one of the top collecting sites in the Southeastern United States. Through their healthcare teams and high-volume collections, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and the blood bank have contributed to 138 cord blood transplants across 26 states and at least a dozen countries.
“Our partnership with HCA Florida North Florida Hospital began over 50 years ago, providing life-saving blood to their patients, and continues with cord blood donation and the impact it can have on patients suffering from many diseases,” said Kim Kinsell, President and CEO of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers. “Each cord blood donation matters and is an opportunity for a mother to give the gift of life, which is not possible without dedication of doctors who collect cord blood and understand the life-saving significance of the donation.”
With thousands of people currently waiting for a match on the NMDP Be The Match registry and ongoing efforts to grow the program, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers are helping to ensure that patients in need will have access to life-saving cord blood for decades to come.
For more information on cord blood donations, please visit this link. For more information on HCA Florida North Florida Hospital’s Labor and Delivery Services, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.