Couple Races to Conceive a Child to Save Their Son

A British Columbian couple are trying to conceive a baby to harvest the umbilical cord’s stem cells to save their 8 year old Son, Ben, who is currently battling leukemia.  47 year old Pam Obadia knows that it will not be easy, and may not even happen, but has said “there are such things as miracles, so we are going to hope for that,” to CBC News on Monday.

Obadia will have to undergo a process known as pre implementation genetic diagnosis and the embryos would be pre-screened prior to in vitro fertilization in order to ensure that the embryo matched Ben’s tissue type.  If the Obadia carries to term, the umbilical cord blood would be infused with Ben’s bone marrow.

Obadia’s age however is hindering the process.  She has been turned down by fertility clinics in Vancouver due to her age.  Determined to care on with the procedure, the mother will travel to Chicago and pay $25,000 out of pocket.  Her insurance will not cover the expense.

The father, Michael Obadia made this statement: “There are a few ethical questions, but when you are trying to save another child, to us, anyway, there is not a question.”