Chris Smith: “I thank my good friend Mr. Guthrie for yielding and for his support on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, Maalik…”

“I thank my good friend Mr. Guthrie for yielding and for his support on this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, Maalik was diagnosed with Hurler syndrome at 15 months old, a rare and life-threatening metabolic disorder. He had a curved spine, and he could not walk. After receiving an umbilical cord blood transplant facilitated through the Carolinas Cord Blood Bank, Maalik is running around and is expected to have a normal lifespan. His mother, Krystal, said: ``My son is extremely happy now. He is energetic and more independent. The transplant saved his life.'' In like manner, bone marrow donations provide lifesaving transplants for a myriad of diseases. Clara was only 4 months old when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. John had registered with the National Marrow Donor Program Be The Match as a bone marrow donor when Clara was only 17 days old. It turned out it was a perfect match for Clara. John's donation saved Clara's life. She is now thriving at 2 years of age. Mr. Speaker, not only has God in His wisdom and goodness created a placenta and an umbilical cord to nurture and protect the precious life of an unborn child, but now, we find He has left a great gift behind. Immediately after birth, something very special is left behind, cord blood that is teeming with lifesaving stem cells.…”