Stem cells from baby's umbilical cord save life of granddad given months to live

Patients with leukaemia need stem cells to replace damaged ones - the blood in the umbilical cord is so immature the recipient can accept the cells more easily

A grandad given just months to live has beaten leukaemia after getting stem cells from two babies umbilical cords.

The move was the only option to save David Pyne, 60, after all other treatments failed. He was one of the first to have the procedure.

He said of the stem cell transplant: To think two newborns saved an old mans life is just marvellous and its given me more time with my own grandchildren.

The dad-of-four was diagnosed with cancer in August 2012 and had chemotherapy and blood transfusions.

He desperately needed a stem cell donor but a match could not be found and he was given just 12 to 18 months to live.

But then he was offered cells from the umbilical cords of one baby in America and another in France.

He said: Things were looking pretty grim until I got the news about the possibility of an umbilical cord stem cell transplant.

The team found two separate umbilical cord donors that were a good match.

"I felt elated.

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Stem cells from baby's umbilical cord save life of granddad given months to live