COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The key to saving lives could be in your unborn child's umbilical cord.
That's why state lawmakers are pushing for the Informed Choice Bill, which would require doctors to give expectant parents information about collecting and banking cord blood.
Cord blood is rich in stem cells that can be used to treat diseases such as sickle cell anemia and cancers.
Parents can choose to donate their child's cord blood to public banks or can collect it and save it for private use in the future.
Kelly and Adel Mikhail saved the cord blood from their two youngest daughters. They considered it an insurance policy to help treat any diseases their children may contract in the future.
"You don't want to plan for the worst, but you want to plan for the best ... the best outcome to anything that comes along. You have one opportunity to make that happen," Kelly said.
Donating your child's cord blood to a public bank is free. However, saving the blood for private use comes along with a fee. It costs about $1,000 to have it collected and $150 a year to have it frozen and saved.
The Informed Choice Bill passed unanimously in the Ohio House and in the Senate Health Committee. It's waiting for floor vote in the Senate.
Ohio would be the 18th state to enact cord-blood legislation if it were to pass.
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