MONTREAL – Héma-Québec reached a milestone Monday – receiving its 10,000th donation of cord blood.
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The blood found in umbilical cords is especially rich in stem cells, which can help patients who suffer from cancer and other diseases regain healthy blood and immune systems.
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The organization is especially looking for non-Caucasian donors as just 20 per cent of the samples they receive come from ethnic minorities.
It’s a predicament that Montreal mother Mai Duong understands wholeheartedly.
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Duong, who was diagnosed with leukemia, got a second chance at life back in September of last year when a mother donated her newborn child’s umbilical cord blood.
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She was supposed to be on hand for the announcement, but had come down with the chicken pox.
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Héma-Québec emphasized that it is always looking for donors and expecting mothers can complete the paperwork to donate within minutes.
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