stem cell collection should be routine
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Scientist and mum Catriona McCauley lives with her husband and children Conor (five) and Sarah (three) in Co Cavan.
She is a firm advocate of the need to collect umbilical stem cells and fought a campaign to make it happen in an Irish maternity hospital.
"I did my research and very quickly became convinced it was the best thing to do. There is so much potential in the treatment it was a no-brainer.
"For me it was like taking out an insurance policy," she added.
Catriona lived in America for 10 years and gave birth to her first child, Conor, in the US.
"I had the stem cells collected after the birth of Conor in the States. Gathering cord stem cells for storage is offered as a matter of course in America."
But the situation wasn't as straight forward on her return to Ireland when she was pregnant with her second child.
"When I was pregnant with Sarah I went to my local hospital in Cavan and asked that my cord blood be stored and they told me it was not done routinely.
"I was shocked but it was not an option to have my baby anywhere else."
She didn't take the decision lying down and decided to fight for the right to get the cord blood stem cells harvested.
"Sometimes doctors don't know best and as a parent it is black and white -- you do everything in your power for your children.
"Eventually, after a lot of campaigning and support from the Irish Patients Association, I was allowed to do it as long as I signed a waiver if it didn't work out.
"I am not a pessimist but it is nice to know it is there if we ever need it.
"The uses are expanding every day," said Catriona.
