For families welcoming newborns, the moment is full of love and promise. Now, thanks to a partnership between LifeLink Tissue Bank and AdventHealth Tampa, that moment can also bring hope to others. Through the expansion of the innovative LifeLink Tissue Bank Birth Tissue Donation Program, mothers at AdventHealth Tampa can choose to donate their birth tissue after Cesarean delivery, offering more families the opportunity to make a lasting impact on patients in need of therapies to treat difficult to heal wounds.
Birth tissue donation is a painless process that occurs after a baby is safely delivered. The placenta and umbilical cord, which are typically discarded after birth, can be transformed into allografts which support a patient's healing process. Remarkably, a single birth tissue donation can result in more than 200 allografts to help patients recover from difficult-to-treat conditions such as severe burns, complex wounds, or ulcers.
“LifeLink is honored to partner with AdventHealth Tampa to allow more expectant mothers in our community the opportunity to give the gift of healing through birth tissue donation,” said Tiffany Fain, Birth Tissue Acquisition Program Supervisor for LifeLink Tissue Bank. “Many people are surprised to learn that something as natural as giving birth can also become an opportunity to deliver hope to patients in need of transplantation therapy. What begins as a new life can go on to help restore health and hope for a grandparent struggling with a chronic wound. It’s truly a gift that can connect generations.”
The LifeLink Tissue Bank Birth Tissue Donation Program launched at AdventHealth Tampa in September 2024. To date, more than 1,000 mothers have donated birth tissue through LifeLink, contributing thousands of grafts to patients across the country.
“AdventHealth Tampa is committed to providing compassionate care and this partnership gives us the opportunity to extend the care to families beyond the delivery room,” said Rebeccah Vires, director of OB/Perinatal Services at AdventHealth Tampa.
Expectant mothers delivering at AdventHealth Tampa, as well as at Tampa General Hospital, may choose to register as birth tissue donors and will work closely with a LifeLink birth tissue coordinator to complete a brief medical and social history, like the process for blood donation. There is no cost to the mother or family, and the donation does not impact the health of either mother or child. LifeLink encourages mothers planning cesarean deliveries to consider registering for birth tissue donation and join the growing community of women making a profound difference in the lives of others.
About LifeLink Tissue Bank
LifeLink Tissue Bank, a division of LifeLink Foundation, provides life-enhancing tissue allografts through tissue recovery, respectful care of donors, compassion for donor families, and commitment to innovation and excellence. LifeLink Tissue Bank collaborates with leading organizations in the field of regenerative medicine to honor the legacy provided by tissue donors by benefiting as many patients in need of tissue transplantation as possible. For more information on LifeLink Tissue Bank please visit www.LifeLinkTissueBank.org.
About AdventHealth Tampa
AdventHealth Tampa is a 626-bed, not-for-profit hospital recognized for its advanced specialty care, including cardiology, neuroscience, pulmonology, orthopedics, women’s health and minimally invasive surgery. Home to the nationally recognized Pepin Heart Institute for more than three decades, the hospital also offers 24/7 emergency care for adults and children and is an accredited Chest Pain Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center. Learn more at AdventHealthTampa.com.