There is a debate now, if new parents would/should save the blood from their new born baby's umbilical cord, knowing that it can be used for, among other things, re-growing bone marrow for cancer patients.

Collecting the blood costs $1,900. and then there is an annual storage fee of $175.

Would you pay this, knowing that in all likelihood the ultimate recipient will be someone you will never even meet?

There is a debate now, if new parents would/should save the blood from their new born baby's umbilical cord, knowing that it can be used for, among other things, re-growing bone marrow for cancer patients.

Collecting the blood costs $1,900. and then there is an annual storage fee of $175.

Would you pay this, knowing that in all likelihood the ultimate recipient will be someone you will never even meet?

Reminds me of the Saw challenge where the character had to choose between saving himself or allowing himself to die to save a mother and child who were in danger of dying if he didn't die. I guess I'd pay the $1,900 and the $175 annual storage fee to save a stranger's life. For all I know that stranger could be destined to save other people's lives...

I think its a good idea........

I think I'd need more of a guarantee than some vague claim.

I know that if I were on the receiving end I would insist on reimbursing whatever costs were involved.

Me personally, I don't think that I'd have any problem donating the umbilical to a worthy cause, but the idea of having to pay for the process rubs me the wrong way. Seems like there should be one of those tax shelter partnerships that doctors are well known to participate in, to pay the freight.

The argument up front is that the life saved MIGHT be your own, so it's (potentially) an investment in your own future. But, the source I saw indicated that 9 times out of ten this ends up going to patients you'll never meet.

So, it just seems a little odd, like an opportunity to throw money away for (allegedly) a "good cause".

Anyone having $1,900 they don't know what to do with, I might be willing to make a better offer, having more tangible benefits.

Send me your $1,900 and I promise you'll never have to meet me..... (and you'll save the storage fee)...a true win-win if ever there was one