Cord stem cells can be used to treat a range of conditions in older siblings. Public banks encourage families to have their cord stem cells stored as a therapeutic resource for all the siblings. And the umbilical stem cells from a baby sibling could be used for the treatment of an older sibling who is in need of a transplant, which can be particularly beneficial for families with Asian or African heritage, who are at an increased risk of blood disorders and may encounter a scarcity of compatible donors.
It doesn’t need to be a difficult decision to bank a younger child’s umbilical stem cells when older children haven’t had theirs stored; one banked cord is far better than none. And every unit of cord blood your family has stored increases treatment options for the donor children and their siblings if problems arise down the line.