Natalie Curry

Advocate and Pioneer in Cord Blood Awareness

Iconic patient zero for cord blood success and tireless promoter of hematopoietic stem cell preservation.

Natalie Curry, affectionately known as the “Cord Blood Queen,” was a prominent stem cell advocate and the first U.S. citizen to survive a lifesaving umbilical cord blood transplant. Diagnosed at age one with Fanconi Anemia—a rare, fatal blood disorder that typically claims lives before age ten—Curry’s story revolutionized regenerative medicine.

In 1988, unable to find a bone marrow match, her parents conceived a sibling donor. Younger sister Emily’s birth in 1988 marked a medical milestone: her umbilical cord blood—typically discarded as waste—was collected in one of the world’s first successful harvests, attended by 13 doctors. At age four (1989), with FDA approval pending in the U.S., the family relocated to Paris, France, for the groundbreaking transplant performed by Dr. Eliane Gluckman—the first cord blood transplant ever for Fanconi Anemia. The procedure’s success, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, paved the way for FDA approval and established cord blood banking as a viable alternative to bone marrow transplants.

Curry’s survival highlighted cord blood’s advantages: richer in hematopoietic stem cells, easier matching, and lower rejection risks. In 2006, she received a kidney transplant from the same sister, further demonstrating long-term benefits.

Advocacy & Impact:

From her Southern Indiana roots, Curry has dedicated her life to education, serving as spokesperson for Cord Blood America (2010) and hosting webinars on transplants. Through her blog (nataliecurry.com) and media appearances, she promotes preserving cord blood—a “one-time chance” at birth—for treating over 80 diseases, including cancers, blood disorders, and emerging therapies. Her mantra: “Save the cord—save a life.”

Earning the “Cord Blood Queen” title for her royal-like influence in the field, Curry inspires families worldwide to bank or donate cord blood, bridging personal triumph with global advancements in stem cell therapy.

R.I.P. Natalie Curry