Cord Blood Education for Parents, Health Professionals and Students - Save the Cord Foundation
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  • Home
  • Step-by-Step
  • LEARN
    • Cord Blood Facts
    • Types of stem cells
    • Diseases Treated >
      • Regenerative Medicine: Cord Blood is Critical
      • Participate in a Cord Blood Clinical Trial
    • Cord Blood FAQs
    • Cord Blood News >
      • RESEARCH
      • PROJECTS and EVENTS
      • RESOURCES
    • Video Gallery
    • Share the Science Archive
    • Find a Cord Blood Bank
  • Get Involved
    • ABOUT US >
      • Scientific Advisory Board
      • Inspiring Partners
    • Register for Newsletter
    • Our Work in Action >
      • World Cord Blood Day
      • Arizona Public Cord Blood Program
      • Share the Science
      • NEXT GENERATION: Cord Blood
      • Cord Blood Conferences & Workshops
      • World Cancer Day
    • Cord Blood Education Champions
    • Internship Program at University of Arizona
    • Start a Cord Blood Donation Program
    • Contact Us
  • DONATE
  • Spanish Version
    • Step-by-Step Spanish
    • APRENDER >
      • Datos de la sangre del cordón
      • Tipos de celdas
    • ENCUENTRE UN BANCO
    • PARTICIPE >
      • COMENZAR UN PROGRAMA DE DONACION
      • Ensayos Clínicos
    • DONAR
    • VIDEOS EN ESPAÑOL
    • NOTICIAS DE LA SANGRE DEL CORDON >
      • Curar la diabetes con sangre del cordón?
      • Ensayos Clinicos sobre el autismo
      • Controversia respecto a las células madre
      • Medicina regenerativa
  • Search

Sosa Evbuomwan: Cured of Sickle Cell Thanks to Cord Blood

2/17/2023

 
A clinical trial using a double ni-cord cord blood transplant cured her of sickle cell disease and opened new doors to a healthy future. . . meet Sosa Evbuomwan
When you see Sosa Evbuomwan enter the room, you are instantly struck by her presence. Immediately, you feel her her enthusiasm for life, her welcoming spirit and an electric positivity! She is always looking forward to the next challenge, driven by incredible confidence and vision. Her energy is contagious! You would never guess in a million years that this young woman grew up fighting a severe case of sickle cell disease and struggled with it most of her childhood.  And then, . . . she tells you "I was cured." 

Disbelief. Speechless. This is the common reaction.

You are forgiven for having doubts. But, it is true. This striking, intelligent young lady used to have sickle cell anemia.  


For the first 12 years of her life, Sosa fought the disease. She and her family went to great lengths to make sure that she received the best treatments possible. She suffered through pain crisis and a long list of complicated health issues. ​Ultimately, her doctors recognized that her body was risking severe and potentially debilitating damage following a series of mini-strokes.  A stem cell transplant was recommended. But, where would the stem cells come from?  Bone marrow? No, cord blood. 
We recently sat down with Sosa to talk about her experience growing up with sickle cell and how an innovative clinical trial changed her life forever.
PictureSosa and her family

​What was it like growing up with sickle cell anemia? How did it affect your daily life? 

Growing up with sickle cell was difficult. I would experience pain crises, especially in my legs, and would try to keep my medical and school life separate due to the lack of awareness about sickle cell disease to young children. I didn’t want anyone to treat me differently just because I had this disease. There was a period where every month I had to have blood transfusions and I would come back to school with big bandages and say “I just had shots.”

At what point and why did your doctors recommend a cord blood transplant?

It was discovered that I had suffered multiple mini strokes in my brain with no physical effect. My doctors were afraid that a bigger stroke that could cause greater damage was immanent, so finding a solution was vital.

Was this part of a clinical trial? If so, tell us about the decision making process for you and your family at this time.

Yes! I am the first pediatric patient in the world to be cured of sickle cell disease via double ni-cord cord blood transplant. This was actually my second transplant because my first one in 2011 did not work. Additionally, sickle cell was still deemed “uncurable” at the time. I know it was scary for my parents to put me in that position again, but they stepped out on a lot of faith. Today, I strive to do things with as much faith as they have!

At what point did you know that the cord blood transplant had worked? How did that make you feel? How did you begin to rebuild your life, your childhood? 

We knew the transplant worked when the doctor told my mom that my new cells had taken 99.9% of my body. I remember her holding the paper, gowned up, and just seeing this calm and grateful expression on her face. I think she outwardly expressed her emotions after she left the room as she went to go notify everyone! 

You have experienced so much in such short amount of time. However, you have clearly taken these experiences and used them to make you stronger, not only healthwise, but also emotionally. You have been and continue to be someone who is wise beyond her years. What is your advice to others facing similar challenges? 

My hope is to be an inspiration for others who find themselves not just in situations similar to mine, but for anyone facing some form of adversity or a season of challenges. I am blessed to say I don’t look like what I have been through and want to encourage everyone that while you may be facing trials now that it will pass. You do not have to wear the challenges that life has thrown at you and I challenge you to strive to be your absolute best after life has tried to knock you down to your worst.
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Sosa Evbuomwan, Cord Blood Transplant Recipient
What does your future look like? What path (or paths) are you building for yourself currently? In 10 years, 20 years... who will Sosa be? 

My hope is that I am proud of myself! I find myself taking on new challenges right now (like my pageant!) and doing things that excite me. I hope that I have been able to fulfill my desire to do more public speaking and inspire people with my story. Currently, I am working towards applying to medical school, but understand how life can change in the blink of an eye! Nonetheless, I am excited for what that future may be!

Shooting for the stars!

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Thank you to Sosa for expanding cord blood awareness via the Miss North Carolina USA 2023 competition! 

Cord blood has given Sosa a second chance at life and she is shooting for the stars!  

In February 2023, Sosa competed in the Miss North Carolina USA pageant and used this opportunity to help expand awareness by getting the word out about cord blood and how it cured her of sickle cell disease.

Sosa is living proof why we need to talk more about this incredible medical resource. We need to build awareness and continue to push forward important medical research using cord blood for sickle cell anemia and more. Sosa is giving an important voice to the cord blood movement and showing in real time how a simple gesture after the birth of a child can save a life. Her message for parents and healthcare professionals is simple. . . Save the Cord!

8th Annual Arizona Cord Blood Conference 2023

2/3/2023

 
Register now for the 8th Annual Arizona Cord Blood Conference! This conference is a unique opportunity for healthcare professionals, parents, students and the general public to learn about cord blood stem cells directly from world-leading experts.

Join us on April 13th, 2023 at the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center and discover how cord blood is used to treat 80+ life-threatening diseases including many cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.  See the full agenda below.
The purpose of this one-day conference is to bring patients, researchers, clinicians, and policy makers together to learn about advances in cord blood transplant outcomes, cutting edge research, and exciting new innovations using donated cord blood in treating leukemia, lymphoma, cerebral palsy and more.

John Garcia, Director of the Arizona Public Cord Blood Program, sponsors of this event, said, "The 8th Annual Arizona Cord Blood Conference brings together physicians, researchers, and transplant survivors to share information on the latest in cord blood stem research and share stories of survival. It's miraculous that by using blood from umbilical cords and placentas, that would normally be discarded after birth, hope is given for cures and treatments for over 80 diseases. This is truly a life-saving gift where mothers give birth to new life and save another life with the blood from her baby's umbilical cord."

Expand Access to Stem Cell Transplants with Cord Blood

This year’s conference will place an emphasis on cord blood’s critical role in increasing diversity of donors on public stem cell registries. In addition, speakers will explore cord blood’s unique advantages versus other stem cell sources. Special attention will be given to innovations in cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury research using cord blood.

​The conference will also reinforce the growing network supporting the Arizona Public Cord Blood Program, a free cord blood donation program available to Arizona families and made possible by the Arizona Biomedical Research Centre at the Arizona Department of Health Services.

"Bridging the Diversity Gap,
One Cord Blood Unit at a Time"

Register Here - Free, Open to all
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Full Agenda (Hybrid / In-Person Event with Whova Integration)
Free event. Attend in-person or virtually. Register HERE.
o​8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.       Registration and Breakfast

9:00 a.m. to 9:05 a.m.       Ms. Kristen Wilt, Master of Ceremonies – Opens Conference

9:05 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.       Mr. John Garcia – Welcome and Introduction to the
                                          Arizona Biomedical Research Centre

9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.       Dr. Eugene Livar – Opening Address

9:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.       Dr. Victor Waddell – Opening Comments

9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.      Dr. Suzanne Pontow

10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.    Break – Fun Surveys via Whova

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.    Dr. Megan Finch-Edmondson and Dr. Madison Paton

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.    Dr. Sachit Patel

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.     Lunch – Students join Dr. Filippo Milano and enjoy an
                                          Escape Room Exercise

1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.       Azucena Garcia – Transplant Survivor

1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.       Dr. Amanda Olson

2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.       Dr. Wise Young

2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.       Update on Lyla Edgington – Infant Transplant Survivor

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.       Panel Discussion: Dr. Patel, Dr. Pontow, Dr. Milano,
                                           Dr. Olson, and Dr. Young

4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.       Call to Action – Dr. Filippo Milano

4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.       Closing Remarks – Dr. Victor Waddell and Mr. John Garcia

World Cord Blood Day 2022: Innovations in Cancer Treatments & HIV Research

9/20/2022

 
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We are pleased to announce World Cord Blood Day 2022 (WCBD 2022) will take place on November 15th, featuring a free online medical conference and educational events worldwide. This year's official online conference will highlight innovations in cancer-fighting stem cell transplants using cord blood, as well as ground-breaking cord blood research and novel cell therapies in the potential treatment of HIV, autism, cerebral palsy and more.
On November 15th, World Cord Blood Day 2022 celebrations will be held around the globe (free online medical conference and educational events worldwide – open to the public). Learn how cord blood is used to treat 80+ life-threatening diseases including many blood cancers and holds tremendous potential in the treatment of HIV, autism and cerebral palsy.

Cord blood is the blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta following the birth of a child. It is rich in life-saving stem cells. If collected and stored properly, these cells can be used in stem cell transplants to treat over 80 life-threatening diseases including leukemia, lymphoma, and thalassemia to name a few.

Since 1988, more than 40,000 cord blood transplants have been performed worldwide. Yet, cord blood is still thrown away as medical waste in the majority of births. Education is key to changing this practice and World Cord Blood Day 2022 will provide the perfect opportunity for OBGYNs, midwives, transplant doctors, nurses, parents, students and government authorities to learn about this vital medical resource.

Organized by Save the Cord Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit, World Cord Blood Day 2022 is officially sponsored by QuickSTAT Global Life Science Logistics, recognized leader in medical shipping and healthcare logistics. Inspiring Partners for this event include the Be the Match (NMDP), World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA-Netcord), Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB), Cord Blood Association, and the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT).

In addition to the many live events being held globally by WCBD Community Champions, a Facebook livestream will launch the official WCBD 2022 conference at 10am ET on November 15th. The full conference will be available to view on-demand via Eventbrite until December 15th (free, open to the public, registration required). New this year, a roundtable discussion will be held post-conference via LinkedIn (details coming soon) providing an opportunity for further exploration of session topics.
Go to World Cord Blood Day 2022
Visit www.worldcordbloodday.org to register free for the online conference and learn how you can participate on-line or at an event locally in your community (#WCBD22 #WorldCordBloodDay).

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About QuickSTAT Global Life Science Logistics (Official Sponsor of WCBD 2022)
​
Every day, QuickSTAT, a part of Kuehne+Nagel, safely and reliably moves thousands of critical shipments around the world. For over forty years, QuickSTAT has been entrusted with transporting human organs and tissue for transplant or research, blood, blood products, cord blood, bone marrow, medical devices, and personalized medicine, 24/7/365. QuickSTAT's specially trained experts work with hospitals, laboratories, blood banks and medical processing centers, and utilize the safest routes to ensure integrity, temperature control and chain of custody throughout the transportation process. Learn more at www.quickstat.aero.
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About Save the Cord Foundation (Organizer and host of WCBD 2022)

​
Save the Cord Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit) was established to advance cord blood education. The Foundation provides non-commercial information to parents, health professionals and the public regarding methods for saving cord blood, as well as current applications using cord blood and the latest research. Learn more at www.SaveTheCordFoundation.org.
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About Save the Cord Foundation

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Save the Cord Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization, was established to promote awareness of the life-saving benefits of cord blood based on u​nbiased and factual information. The Foundation educates parents, health professionals and the general public about the need to preserve this valuable medical resource while providing information on both public cord blood donation programs and private family cord blood banks worldwide. Learn more about our global community.

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