Titus' Story
"As a mother, you'll do anything to help your son. I'm really glad the hospital recommended Cord Blood Registry."
--Sandy Chang, mother of Titus, treated for aplastic anemia with a cord blood transplant
It's just another day in the hospital for three-year-old Titus Chang. With his eyes glued to Sesame Street, Titus hardly notices as a nurse administers the transfusion of newborn stem cells that will help save his life.
Diagnosed at eighteen months with aplastic anemia, Titus was immediately put on medication. Weekly blood transfusions sustained his damaged immune system and supported his bone marrow, which wasn't producing any red blood cells.
Lee and Sandy Chang couldn't believe what was happening to their son. "It didn't seem possible," said Sandy, Titus' mother. "He was born a fine, healthy baby. It's not genetic in our family at all."
CBR Helps Out
Constant visits to the hospital put so much strain on the young family that Sandy barely noticed early signs that she was pregnant again. Knowing the baby's cord blood could be lifesaving for Titus, nurses at the hospital immediately recommended storing the newborn's stem cells with Cord Blood Registry (CBR).
"The service and assistance I received from CBR was great," said Sandy. "They gave me a list of doctors who are experienced cord blood collectors, and made it easy for us to arrange to save the new baby's stem cells."
Sandy gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Fortunately, his stem cells were a perfect match for Titus. Related stem cells offer a patient the best transplant outcome and also eliminate a long and often futile search for a matching stem cell donor. The baby's cord blood was collected at no cost as part of CBR's Designated Transplant Program (SM), a free public service based on medical need.
Cord blood is the Best Option for Titus
After undergoing chemotherapy to wipe out his damaged immune system, Titus received his cord blood transplant on December 30, 2004, at University of California Davis Medical Center and Children's Hospital in Sacramento, California. The entire procedure only took a few hours. "Cord blood was really the best answer for Titus," said transplant physician, Douglas Taylor, M.D. "It was immediately available and since Titus' donor was a newborn it would have been difficult or impossible to obtain bone marrow or peripheral blood given the size of a such young baby, which would have delayed the transplant by months if not longer."
Blood Brothers for Life
As the new cells grow in his young body, the only thing different about Titus will be his blood type. His original blood type will change to the blood type of his younger brother and remain that way for the rest of his life. "The cord blood transplant for Titus will return his life entirely to normal," explained Dr. Taylor. "He will no longer need transfusions and his immune system will work completely normally. For all appearances, he will never have had anything wrong with him."
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