When life changed in an instant during her pregnancy, one CordBank mother found strength in making the choices she could to protect the future she was building for her son, Jack. Now, as Jack turns 18, Michelle shares how profound loss shaped her understanding of preparation, peace of mind and keeping future possibilities open. Read her story below.

Why did you save Jack’s cord blood at birth?

When I was pregnant with Jack, I had already experienced firsthand how quickly life can change. Saving his cord blood felt like a way of having more options and security for the future should we ever need it. I hoped and continue to hope it will never be needed, but as a parent I wanted to know I had done everything I could to provide more choices for him should the unexpected happen.

How did your personal journey during pregnancy impact your decision making and thoughts around providing a back-up plan for your son?                                                                          

My circumstances during pregnancy were very different from what I had expected. Losing Wayne (Jack’s dad/my soulmate) suddenly early in our pregnancy forced me to think about things no one ever wants to think about – life, risk and the future in a completely different way. I became very aware that none of us can predict what lies ahead and the importance of protecting what we can.

The sudden shock and devastation made me appreciate the value of preparation. Saving Jack’s cord blood was one of the ways I felt I could put something in place for him that would help in the future should we ever need it 

Has knowing you have Jack’s cord blood stored changed anything for your family?

It has given me peace of mind. Not because I expect we will ever need it, in fact I hope we never do – but because I know that option exists if needed.

For me, peace of mind comes from knowing I’ve considered the possibilities and made thoughtful decisions. Once the cord blood was stored, it became something I didn’t have to  worry or think about because I knew it was there if ever needed.

What would you say to parents who are undecided?

I would encourage them to think about it as having future options.

None of us know what our children will face throughout their lives.  I expect all parents hope they will never need to rely on stored cord blood, just as they hope they never need to rely on life insurance. The decision isn’t about expecting something to go wrong; it’s about deciding whether having better options available should the unexpected happen feels valuable and gives your family peace of mind.

For me, it’s also about knowing I’ve done my best with the information available at the time. As parents we make countless decisions without knowing what the future holds. This was one decision that allowed me to feel I had taken a practical step to give Jack more options should he ever need them.

What benefits do you see in keeping Jack’s cord blood in storage?

For me, the biggest benefit is preserving a unique resource that can never be collected again.

As medical technology continues to evolve, we don’t know what future treatments may become available. By keeping Jack’s cord blood stored, we’re keeping those possibilities open. Once it’s gone, that choice can’t be revisited.

Jack has recently turned 18, but that doesn’t change how I feel about wanting to protect his future. If I believed preserving that option was worthwhile when he was born, that doesn’t change for me simply because he’s now an adult.   

Has your experience influenced the way you think about protecting your family and planning for the future?

Absolutely.

My experience taught me that life doesn’t always go to plan.  Wayne and I had graduated, travelled, bought our family home, welcomed our fur baby (our test child – We were ready to start our family) Jack was a planned pregnancy – then heart failure aged 31 – I was 9 weeks & 2 days pregnant – that wasn’t in the plan. 

Neither was discovering a massive gap in the cover we had thought would protect us – life insurance didn’t pay leaving me alone juggling financial survival while grieving and preparing to become an only parent.  Rather than making me pessimistic, it’s driven me and is the reason I’m so passionate about helping families today. Jack and I have lived through circumstances I never imagined and understand the difference that preparation can make.  It’s why today I help families understand their insurance options and put the right protections in place, including life, income, mortgage, trauma and health cover, so they can have financial security if life doesn’t go to plan.

Looking back, how has your perspective on risk and preparedness changed since becoming a parent?

Before becoming a parent and losing Wayne,  I probably thought about risk in a more abstract way. Once Jack arrived, decisions became less about me and more about ensuring he would be okay no matter what happened.

Being prepared is about recognising that uncertainty is a part of life, which is why I believe it’s important to take practical steps to provide stability, options and support for the people who depend on you.

Many people hope they will never need cord blood storage or personal insurance. How do you think about investing in protections you may never use?

To me, the best outcome is never needing them.

We don’t buy smoke alarms because we expect our house to burn down. We install them because if something unexpected happens, we’re grateful they’re there. I see cord blood storage and life and personal insurance in a similar way. They’re about creating options and reducing the impact of circumstances that are outside our control.

The reality is that once a house is on fire it’s too late to buy insurance, once you are diagnosed with cancer – you have a pre existing condition and once cord blood is discarded it can never be collected again. These decisions need to be made before we know whether we’ll ever need them. 

What does “peace of mind” mean to you as a parent?

Peace of mind means knowing I’ve done the things that are within my control.

As parents, we can’t remove every risk from our children’s lives. What we can do is make thoughtful and informed decisions that improve their opportunities and support them if challenges arise. Peace of mind comes from knowing I’ve done my best to give them options.

How has your personal journey shaped your passion for helping other families prepare for life’s uncertainties?

My personal journey has shown me that life can change in ways we never anticipate.

Going through significant loss while preparing to become a parent taught me how important it is to think ahead and create options wherever possible.

My life experience entirely influences the work I do. I’m passionate about helping families have conversations about personal insurance and protection – life insurance, income, mortgage, trauma and health cover – so they are financially prepared if life changes unexpectedly.  There are decisions we can make today that create more options for the people we love in the future.

A life-saving stem cell transplant has given a young girl a second chance at life, thanks to the foresight of her parents and her brother’s stem cells.

When Ananya was diagnosed with beta thalassaemia, we were completely shattered,” said her parents, Saranya and Srinivas. “We didn’t know what the condition meant or how we would manage it. But we held onto hope. When our son was born, we stored his umbilical cord blood stem cells without knowing if he would be a match. That decision changed everything.”

The cord blood, collected at birth from her younger brother Akash, was stored and preserved for over two years before being released for a stem cell transplant to treat Ananya’s beta thalassaemia, a severe genetic blood disorder.

Beta thalassaemia is a complex condition, and a stem cell transplant is often the only curative option. The success of the transplant depends on a close genetic match between donor and recipient, something the family could only hope for when they chose to store Akash’s cord blood.

Ananya’s transplant was a success, and today, her parents describe her as full of strength and determination. “She truly has the desire to live and conquer the world,” said her father. “Her willpower made her stand where she is today. We are grateful to everyone who supported us.”

July 2026 was Cord Blood Awareness Month — a fitting moment to step back and look at where the science actually stands.

Over the past decade, both cord blood and the tissue of the umbilical cord itself, have become amongst the most actively trialed sources in regenerative medicine. As of July 2026, there are more than 100 actively recruiting studies worldwide using cord blood or cord tissue-derived cells, and the rate at which new trials are opening is accelerating.

In newborns and children, cord-derived cells are being trialled for brain injury of prematurity, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy at birth, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and rare inherited skin diseases such as recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

In adults, the same cells are being trialled across the conditions that define modern aging: knee osteoarthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ischaemic stroke, type 2 diabetes and its complications, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, COPD, lupus, multiple sclerosis and aging frailty itself.

We have highlighted some of these recruiting trials below, showing the wide range of studies in which cord blood stem cells are being used worldwide.

A first-in-human clinical trial has found that intravenous umbilical cord-derived stem cell therapy appears safe and well tolerated in people recovering from ischaemic stroke, providing an important foundation for larger studies.

Researchers treated 18 patients who had experienced an ischaemic stroke between 12 and 24 weeks earlier with a single intravenous infusion of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs). The phase 1 study primarily assessed safety while also monitoring patients for signs of functional recovery.

No serious adverse events were reported during the 24-week follow-up, although one patient experienced seizures that researchers conservatively classified as possibly treatment related. Other reported side effects, including dizziness, nausea and fatigue, were mild and resolved quickly.

Patients also showed encouraging improvements in neurological function and independence over the six-month follow-up. While these results are promising, researchers caution that the trial was small, had no control group, and was designed to evaluate safety rather than prove effectiveness.

The research team concluded that intravenous UC-MSC therapy is feasible and well tolerated in patients recovering from ischaemic stroke. They say the findings support larger, randomized clinical trials to determine whether the treatment can improve long-term recovery and establish the most effective dosing strategy.

Read more here.

A study of nearly 100,000 people found that it’s not just how much you move, but how intensely you move that matters.

Just a few minutes of getting out of breath each day could dramatically cut your risk of major diseases – including heart disease, dementia, and diabetes. A large study reported by the European Society of Cardiology found that it’s not just how much you move, but how intensely you move that matters. Short bursts of vigorous activity – like rushing for a bus or climbing stairs quickly – were linked to striking reductions in disease risk, especially for inflammatory conditions and brain health.

Read more here.

A new meta-analysis is highlighting the potential of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a treatment for Crohn’s-related fistulas.

In New Zealand, more than 20,000 people are affected by inflammatory bowel disease, one of the highest rates in the world.

The analysis pooled data from 25 studies across Europe, North America and Asia, involving 596 patients. The results surpassed traditional methods, showing remission rates of 57.9% at six months and 52% at one year.

Crohn’s disease often leads to fistulas — painful and complex complications that are difficult to treat. Many patients live with chronic pain, infection and repeated operations. Traditional therapies such as antibiotics, immunosuppressants, biologics and surgery have limited success, with healing rates around 30% and frequent complications.

Read more here.

Researchers in China have launched a new clinical study investigating the use of cells from umbilical cord blood in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

The Phase 1 study which began in July 2025 involves 30 participants. All will continue their usual Alzheimer’s medications and will be randomly assigned to receive either cord blood cells or a placebo, delivered intravenously.

It will assess whether the treatment reduces inflammation in the body, which is thought to play a role in Alzheimer’s disease.

This is an early-stage (Phase I) trial designed to determine whether the approach is suitable for further research. The study is expected to conclude in 2026, and no results have been reported yet.

See the clinical trial here.

Key brain wiring and network efficiency continue developing into the early 30s, according to a major new study analysing brain scans from over 4,200 people. That viral claim that the brain is “fully developed at 25” turns out to be more myth than milestone.

Read more here.

Strong social connections may literally slow ageing at the cellular level, according to Cornell University researchers. Using DNA-based tools that measure how fast our cells are ageing, they found that people with deeper, more sustained relationships across their lifetime showed younger cellular profiles and lower chronic inflammation. It’s not about any single friendship — it’s the depth and consistency of connections built over decades.

Read more here.