Charley Webb, currently on maternity leave as Emmerdale‘s Debbie Dingle, has revealed she’s stored new baby Ace’s stem cells.
Making the admission in an emotional Instagram post, Charley shared a picture of the little one and wrote that she feels “grateful” to have been able to do it.
Read more: Charley Webb thrills fans with photo of baby ace
Alongside the shot, and one advertising the company who they used, she said: “We decided to store Ace’s stem cells.
“As parents every single one of us wants to do what’s best for our children.
“When I was pregnant, I heard about the possibility of collecting and storing my baby’s umbilical cord stem cells, which could then be used in the future should they be needed for treatment (I hope with every part of me we never need it).
“After researching, we learned that the baby’s umbilical cord is a valuable source of stem cells, and these cells can be collected at birth and stored. These could then be used as a crucial part of treating or curing an illness.
“Currently, there are over 80 diseases cord blood stem cells can treat. I decided to use Smart Cells to store the stem cells: the process was easy (genuinely) and they organised everything.”
As parents every single one of us wants to do what’s best for our children.
She then continued: “Like I said, we hope we never need to use them, but it’s comforting to know that we have them stored if we ever do.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I’m so grateful we were able to do this.”
Fans were quick to support Charley and co-star husband Matthew Wolfenden’s decision, with one writing: “Well done, such an important thing to do.”
“This is amazing, honestly amazing,” said another.
A third added: “Amazing thing and I think every parent should consider doing this as it may save a life.”
Charley and Matthew welcomed third child Ace into the world in July, before announcing his gender and name in August.
The couple already shared Buster, nine, and Bowie, three.
Read more: Emmerdale fans furious at ‘victim’ Moira Dingle
They revealed in an interview with OK! that Ace’s birth had been traumatic.
“The umbilical cord was wrapped around Ace’s neck when he was born,” Charley explained.
“It came off and he was passed to me but I could tell something was wrong.
“Ace wasn’t breathing at first – so the midwife had to press the panic button.”
Matthew added: “By the time someone had come through the door from the panic button being pressed, Ace was breathing again, so it couldn’t have been long. Although it felt like a lifetime.”
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