When Gail McCullough, Jr., was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in 2005, his doctor explained that his condition would become critical within two years and he could not survive without a bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, despite extensive searching, no match could be found.
His physician, Dr. Mary Laughlin, suggested that the Canfield, Ohio, resident might be a good candidate for a cord blood transplant.
Since his successful cord blood transplant in 2008, Gail has enjoyed good health. He has had the privilege of walking his daughter, Brooke, down the aisle at her wedding as well as attending his son Ryan’s wedding. He is now the beloved grandfather to seven, and enjoys a balance of work and leisure travel with wife, Jill.
“I was surprised at how quick and simple a cord blood transplant is, he noted. “It’s enabled me to go back to a normal life without needing to take any medications related to the transplant.”
Since his transplant, daughter, Brooke Anderson, of Aurora, Ohio, donated her newborn son’s cord blood at Hillcrest Hospital, a Cleveland Cord Blood Center hospital partner. Daughter, Erin, of Hudson, Ohio, had previously donated the cord blood from her two babies.
“Cord blood is a great source of stem cells that can help save someone’s life,” he said. “They’re finding more ways to use cord blood to help improve the chances of having a long life.”