HCA Florida North Florida Hospital and LifeSouth Community Blood Centers hosted a special plaque unveiling ceremony on Monday to honor past cord blood donations.

According to LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, cord blood is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta after a baby is born. The blood is rich in hematopoietic stem cells, which can develop into all types of blood cells, including white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells. These stem cells are essential for treating numerous medical conditions, particularly those affecting the blood and immune systems.

The cord blood is sometimes disposed of after birth if the mother doesn’t provide direction on its use. Among the speakers at the event was Dr. David Stewart, an HCA Florida North Florida Hospital obstetrician and gynecologist who advocates for and collects cord blood donations.

“Patient who choose to donate do so out of their own conviction. At the moment of bringing new life into the world, these mothers also have the chance to save the life of someone they’ve never met,” said Stewart in the press release. “By combining the efforts of LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank, selfless donors, and a dedicated team of nurses, technicians and providers, processed cord blood can become a life-saving miracle for many patients.”

HCA Florida North Florida Hospital launched its partnership with LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank in 1997 and achieved a major milestone in 2001 with the shipment of its first unit for clinical transplant.

Since 2001, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital has become one of the top collecting sites in the Southeastern U.S. Through their healthcare teams and high-volume collections, the hospital and the blood bank have contributed to 138 cord blood transplants across 26 states and around a dozen countries.

“Our partnership with HCA Florida North Florida Hospital began over 50 years ago, providing life-saving blood to their patients, and continues with cord blood donation and the impact it can have on patients suffering from many diseases,” said Kim Kinsell, President and CEO of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, in the press release. “Each cord blood donation matters and is an opportunity for a mother to give the gift of life, which is not possible without dedication of doctors who collect cord blood and understand the life-saving significance of the donation.”

For more information on cord blood donations, please click here. For more information on HCA Florida North Florida Hospital’s Labor and Delivery Services, click on HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.