Aubrey is just four years old.  On Valentine’s Day, 2001, she received a cord blood transplant as the ultimate treatment in her battle with acute myeloid leukemia. At that time, cord blood was something her parents really didn’t know much about, despite the fact that their hometown, Grand Rapids, is the site of Michigan’s first cord blood bank, at Michigan Community Blood Centers.

“Before we went through everything with Aubrey, I didn’t know anything about cord blood donation, or the cord blood bank,” explains Aubrey’s mom, Karen. “Now whenever anyone I know gets pregnant, I tell them about it. I know it can save lives. It saved Aubrey’s life.”

Today, Aubrey is a sweet, charming, lively little girl who seems to have regained every ounce of her natural vigor.  Neither mom Karen nor dad Kevin know who donated the cord blood that saved their little girl’s life, but every day they can see and feel the difference that donor made in their family. “Thank you,” says Karen. “We owe our little girl’s life to you.”

Aubrey (center) with sister Alex and mom Karen at Evening of Thanks in January, 2005

© Michigan Community Blood Centers