Charlotte Gallagher

Charlotte worked as a midwife in London when she was first introduced to stem cell banking. Having been impressed by the pace at which this technology was moving, she decided to research stem cell banking as she was preparing to start a family.

This research led her to decide to store her baby’s stem cells with the foresight that, should they ever face an illness requiring stem cell therapy, having their own stored cells available could be invaluable.

With medical technology changing so fast, she realised that stem cells would be precious for multiple treatments. Besides, she treated the stem cells, usually regarded as waste, as a resource that could save lives.

Her choice to store with Future Health Biobank was driven by a previous experience with a company that no longer collects samples in the UK. Coming across Future Health Biobank, she was very impressed with their customer service. Everything was very smooth, from ordering the kit to arranging the collection and processing all paperwork. She says Future Health Biobank managed all necessary documentation and coordination with the hospital, eliminating the need for her to handle these logistics herself.

Charlotte said that what is typically considered medical waste after birth could be invaluable to their child’s health in the future. She highlights how Future Health Biobank is working toward making stem cell banking available to everyone with its flexible payment schemes.

Her advice to people who are thinking of storing their child/baby’s sample is not to view it as something that is a medical waste but as a valuable resource. She says that even though these stem cells from the umbilical cord have served their initial purpose, they may be holding the key to some future treatments that could save a life. Her idea thus reflects the huge potential of stem cells and therefore advises parents to consider them for the long-term benefits.