By Alison Griswold
Staff Reporter
The Yale Daily News
Published Monday, June 7, 2010
Time is ticking to find a donor for Mandi Schwartz ’11, the women’s hockey forward who has battled leukemia on and off for nearly 18 months. As the search becomes increasingly critical, efforts to find Schwartz a matching marrow or cord blood donor have intensified.
“It’s pretty urgent right now,” head women’s hockey coach Hilary Witt said. “Mandi’s staying tough and doing the best she can, but it’s quite a battle for her. She’s staying as strong as she can, and she’s an...
#1 By Faculty 8:24p.m. on June 8, 2010
She took a course from me. Wonderful person -- hoping this all works out for her.
#2 By old blue 5:47p.m. on June 9, 2010
The idea of donating cord blood should be better publicized within hospitals and prenatal classes - seems like very few expectant mothers are aware of the value of these donations.
#3 By Devin 10:10p.m. on June 10, 2010
Mandi I hope you are able to find a donor.
#4 By Sarah 8:57a.m. on June 11, 2010
To old blue - the idea of collecting / donating cord blood is discussed a bit in prenatal classes. What never seems to be discussed is who would pay for the $2,000 (ish) that it costs. You might get more expectant moms to consider this if they don't have to pick up such a large expense.
#5 By Heidi 9:08a.m. on June 12, 2010
The cord blood donation in this case is free for expectant couples, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Ted Collins' foundation, Natasha's Place (www.natashasplace.org). Normally cord blood collection companies don't process the paperwork after 34 weeks gestation, but they're making an exception in this case. I am expecting any day now, and managed to get a kit delivered in just 3 days. One final hurdle is that the cord blood can't be collected between 3pm on Fri and 3pm on Sun -- doing my best not to go into labor this weekend. :)
#6 By @Sarah 11:01a.m. on June 12, 2010
I believe that the cost only applies if you intend to keep the cord blood for potential use by your own family. If you're donating it for use by others in need, I don't think there's any charge.
#7 By Bill 12:38a.m. on June 14, 2010
With her brother being a likely 2010 draft pick and the CBC and HNiC already involved, I assume that the whole NHL junior hockey community is involved. I say this because top prospect Erik Gudbranson's younger brother suffered from the same disease and I would assume that he would take a personal interest in Mandi's situation as well.
#8 By ESPN 9:25p.m. on June 15, 2010
Story featured on ESPN: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5288507
#9 By Yalie '04 4:06p.m. on June 18, 2010
The thing that is infrequently said with respect to cord blood donation is that many collection protocols call for the cord to be clamped immediately after birth. Immediate cord clamping deprives the newborn of blood. I wonder whether the organization that is seeking cord blood donation allows delayed cord clamping (that is, until the cord stops pulsating) as part of the collection process.
#10 By Yalie MD 11:01p.m. on June 19, 2010
Yalie '04 what the hell are you talking about? The umbilical cord is clamped right after birth with no ill efects on the baby. The baby starts breathing immediately and doesn't need any oxygen from the mother after that point. The baby has its own blood and never receives any blood from the mother. It only receives oxygen from mom and this is no longer needed outside the womb where there is air available. Were you trying to say something different because your point doesn't make sense.
#11 By YDN Update 12:35p.m. on June 26, 2010
Any update on this?
#12 By @ #11 9:08p.m. on June 29, 2010
Last I heard, she's scheduled for a transplant via a partial match in early September or so. A partial match is better than nothing, but it would be very nice to find a better fit.
If you know people of Ukrainian, Russian or German heritage, mention it to them - pregnant mothers of that lineage may be able to donate cord blood and save a life.
#13 By Y2010 9:55a.m. on July 1, 2010
I know a few people of that heritage who might be willing to donate bone marrow. What information can I give them about how to register to be a donor?
#14 By @ Y2010 4:00p.m. on July 1, 2010
Even with that heritage, it's by no means likely that they're a match - but it would be fantastic if they wish to get registered. All it takes is a cheek swab. The primary source of information for registering is the National Marrow Donor Program at:
http://www.marrow.org/
From that website, they can find additional information including local drives where they can get the swab test done.
I believe in Mandi's case, since it's imminent, they're now looking for cord blood from expectant mothers. In case any of the people you know are pregnant, here's a link with more information specifically on Mandi's case:
http://www.becomemandishero.org
If you have more questions, just ask. I don't know Mandi and don't have any official information on her, but it's clearly a great and urgent cause.
(And if you're on campus I can give you some small flyers with information, too.)
#15 By Anon Mother of an Infant 3:14p.m. on July 8, 2010
At the time I was researching donation in late 2009 there were no cord blood banks in the area that would take the cord blood from my newborn as a donation. My OB even said he would be willing to waive their cord blood collection fees if they were collecting for donation, but I was unable to find a cord blood bank that accepted donor cord blood. There are plenty willing to take the blood (and substantial fees) to store for use by my own family, but I consider that to be a waste of a potentially life-saving resource (the cord blood) and a waste of money.
#16 By Yalie '04 11:21a.m. on July 12, 2010
@#10 Yalie MD: I am just now seeing your post. Immediate cord clamping deprives the newborn of blood that would otherwise flow from the placenta. (I never said anything about blood from the mother.) There are many scholarly articles that discuss the potential benefits of delayed cord clamping. Why not use your alleged physician access to read some?
#17 By Yale M.D. 9:50p.m. on July 25, 2010
Again, Yalie '04- you have no idea what you are talking about? How much blood do you think is in the placenta that doesn't get back to the baby? Not very much. OBs have been cutting the umbilical cord right after birth for time immemorial with no ill-effects on the baby. So please, enlighten me with one of these scholarly articles about delayed cord clamping and how beneficial it is. Post a link to an article so I may educate myself.
#18 By PK, M.Div. '80 6:37a.m. on July 28, 2010
Please read the following article in today's (July 28) NYT:
Questions About Yale Cancer Patient’s Benefactor
By THOMAS KAPLAN
The man spearheading the effort to help a Yale hockey player with leukemia has a tangled financial past.
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