The purpose is to store your baby's stem cells from the discarded umbilical cord on the off chance he or she either gets cancer or some autoimmune disease process that requires a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. As far as I can tell the cost is 1 to $2,000 up front and then somewhere around $100 a year after the first year for continued storage. It's unlikely that my baby would ever need it, and even if she did by the time she needed something like that there will probably be a lot more technology around to give more options for treatment. I'm just not sure if it's worth the cost or hassle. Anyone else doing it? I'd love to know your thoughts.