Babies can now grow to be their own donors

SULLIVAN KELLY’S mother has already given him the gift of life once — but thanks to modern medical technology, she may yet do so again.

Rosie Sullivan, 31, took the unusual step of having her baby's stem cells frozen when he was born four months ago.

Her decision means that if Sullivan develops a life-threatening illness somewhere down the road, his own stem cells could potentially save him.

"I suppose it's like a life assurance policy, that hopefully I will never have to call on, but with the reassurance that it's there if I need it," Rosie said.

To preserve her baby's stem cells, Rosie, from Wexford, drew on the expertise of Cryocare, a British company which arranges for the freezing and storage of the cells in a technique known as cryopreservation. This involves the removal of stem cells from the umbilical cord at delivery time, via a needle, into a blood bag which is collected by courier and must be brought within 72 hours to the storage company.

Here it is cooled to the temperature of liquid nitrogen (minus 196 degrees celsius), and can be stored for 20 years. In the meantime, should Sullivan develop cancer, leukaemia or heart disease, his chances of survival are almost 100% because doctors can draw on his own cells to treat him.

"It means Sullivan wouldn't have to wait around until a suitable donor was found in the event that he needed a bone marrow transplant," she says.

"Instead, doctors could inject him with his own stem cells and create new bone marrow. The same would apply if he developed heart disease."

Rosie Sullivan, who works with Health and Living magazine, had no particular reason for opting for Cryocare, other than a mother's desire to give her son the best chances in life.

It costs just €1,800, payable in 10 instalments no dearer than her car insurance policy.

It is, she says, hugely popular in the US and widely used in Britain. There is no legislation to prevent the use of Cryocare here, but as yet there is no company offering the service.

The procedure was simple she contacted Cryocare, they sent her the information, a plastic canister, a blood bag, a syringe and a clamp, which she brought with her to the labour ward at Wexford General.

The midwife was familiar with the procedure, the umbilical cord was clamped on delivery, the cells removed via syringe, and DHL had them with the storage company in Brussels within the 72-hour time limit.

Painless and invaluable, and a small price to pay for life.