I am sure that there are real life stories of how cord blood saves lives now. However, I think the main impact is still years away. Let's hope that the stem cell research will advance quickly so that more diseases will be cured and more people saved.

I remember a marketing brochure from one of the private cord blood banks, ViaCord, contains a real-life story of how cord blood saved a sibling's life. I found these stories on their website: http://www.viacord.com/services-testimonials.htm. Also, here's a list of treatable diseases on their website: http://www.viacord.com/treatable-diseases.htm. According to another private cord blood bank, Cord Blood Registry, currently nearly 70 diseases have been treated with cord blood stem cells--here's their list of diseases treated (hopefully it's similar to the other list assuming both websites are up-to-date!): http://www.cordblood.com/cord_blood_banking_with_cbr/banking/diseases_treated.asp. They have their own stories too, which you'll see once you're on their website.

I don't believe that cord blood is actively being used to cure any diseases now. However, there are some cases that stem cells (which the cord blood contains plenty) are used to treat some diseases. By the time our kids grow up, I am sure that more cures can be benefited from the stored cord blood.

I know people who use a public repository in which the blood is saved for free. However, you don't get exclusive usage to your cord blood. It's more like a donation scheme for bone marrow.

Although we have banked Damien's umbilical cord blood in a private bank, I am not 100% sure if it can really save life. Do you know if there are any recorded cases that cord blood has saved lifes?