Cord blood contains a high level of life saving stem cells.  Where embryonic stem cells are used mainly for research, clinics and hospitals actively use cord blood as a treatment for many diseases.  Many of these diseases are otherwise incurable, or sometimes alternative methods are unavailable.  Here are just a few of the diseases treated with cord blood:

• Blood Disorders and Malignancies: Leukemia and sickle cell anemia patients are the most common beneficiaries of cord blood.  Cord blood can take the place of some bone marrow transplants.  It's safer because the body is less likely to reject the cord blood than bone marrow.  What's more, cord blood matches between donors and receivers are more likely.
• Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency: This disease results from a lack of certain enzymes, and there are several successful cord blood treatments without side effects.
• Krabbe's Disease: Similar to the disease portrayed in the popular movie Lorenzo's Oil, Krabbe's Disease was (until recently) incurable.  Today, there are several successful cases of cord blood treatment.

Cord blood treatment is expensive and still in its experimental stages, but it promises success with many other diseases such as, AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer's disease.  President Bush's budget appropriated 19 million dollars for the purpose of building America's cord blood inventory.  But that doesn't make the blood any more accessible.  Cord blood can only come from a donor.  If you're an expecting parent, you can double the miracle of life by finding out if your local hospital collects cord blood donations.