The National Marrow Donor Program says every year, more than 10,000 Americans get life-threatening diseases that can best be treated with a cord blood or bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor

Medical researchers say a simple decision by expectant mothers can mean the difference between life and death for thousands of people. Blood from umbilical cords has been used in life-saving transplants for people suffering from diseases such as leukemia. But cord blood is in short supply.  VOA's Robert Raffaele has the story.