Apr 15 2008
Canadian Couple Goes to Chicago to try have saviour baby that will save their son’s life.
A Port Coquitlam, B.C. couple want to have another baby so they can use stem cells from the umbilical cord blood to help their 8 year old son, Ben, beat leukemia. The process involves pre-screening embryos before in vitro fertilization to find one that matches their son’s tissue type.
B.C. fertility clinics have refused to do the procedure, even though parts of it were developed in Canada, because of one factor — Pam’s age. She’s 47. They don’t do the procedure on women over 45. Pam and Michael are heading to Chicago, and will shoulder the entire $25,000 cost themselves, because B.C. Health will not pay any of their expenses.
Would you do it? Would you have another baby to try save your child’s life?
Popularity: 18% [?]
Yep I would in a heart beat. After going thourgh what we have been through in the last 18 months I would do just about anything to help my girls have a better life. I wish we could have saved their cord blood so many advances are being made in stem cell research these days who knows what they might be able to cure/help.
I hear you! I can relate to that couple because she’s close to my age. At this stage of my life, starting at diapers again just isn’t in the game plan. But, if it was the only way to save the life of my own child - you bet I would. With bells on.