In healthy mothers, the umbilical cord blood is rich with stem cells that can turn into lifegiving red and white blood cells, and platelets

Each time a baby is born, a potential gift of life is in danger of being discarded. That gift is blood from the umbilical cord which provides nourishment from mother to baby before birth. But researchers now say the cord blood can be used to treat many others with life-threatening diseases. VOA's Melinda Smith has more on the movement to encourage new mothers to donate this precious gift.