The VIA Foundation's cord blood storage center is located at Chung Yuan Christian University in Chungli, Taoyuan County. The cord blood transportation vehicle arrives at the lab. After the birth data are verified, the cord blood undergoes a series of tests: bacterial cultures, blood cell counts, stem cell ratio and activity checks and blood typing, as well as screening for AIDS, hepatitis B and C, syphilis and other infectious diseases. Afterwards, it undergoes centrifuge separation to eliminate red blood cells, plasma and so forth from the cord blood. After separation and condensation, the remaining 40 cubic centimters or so of cord blood is mixed with cryoprotectant and poured into two separate bags, which in turn are placed in a metal container. After a slow process of freezing, it is stored in a tank of liquid nitrogen at -196°C.

Two liquid nitrogen storage tanks, built at a total cost of over NT$8 million, store the faith, hope and love of nearly 500 couples and the foundation itself for the sake of children.

"Love others as yourself." VIA Foundation executive director Chang Nan-chi says that in an M-shape society, those who know or have heard about cord blood and stem cells are in the middle to upper strata of society. The foundation hopes that it can help the needy by fostering one underprivileged household for every three or four paying households. The first focus of VIA Foundation's charitable work is the Aborigines of Lanyu and Puli, and soon they plan to expand to single-parent families with histories of domestic violence.

Chang doesn't encourage public donation of cord blood, but he does advocate helping the disadvantaged save their cord blood. Chang points out that the antigens of Aborigines are very different from those of the Han Chinese, making matching that much more difficult, and the rates of incidence of certain inherited diseases are quite different. Recently, the VIA Foundation has been collaborating with Veterans General Hospital pediatrician Niu Dao-ming, opening an investigation into the prevalence of certain genetic illnesses common among Aborigines, with the aim of obstructing a "Noah's Ark effect" caused by their isolation on the outlying islands.

Right now, of the 500 families whose cord blood is stored by the VIA Foundation, about 400 are paying clients, with a storage fee of NT$75,000 for the first 20 years. The remaining 100 are being supported by the foundation's own funds. Chang runs the VIA Foundation as a family, by bringing together the families of cord blood children born on the same day for "family reunions"; in this way, the foundation accompanies the children as they grow up.

"In cord blood there is our hope and love. We at the VIA Foundation do this for our children, with caring for life and continuity," says Chang, brimming with confidence.

The dandelion is the logo of the VIA Foundation. "Dandelion seeds have 'parachutes,' and it's our responsibility to prepare parachutes for future generations," says Chang.

Chang asserts that he's a man of vision: "My duty is to give parachutes to the coming generations in preparation for the wind of biotechnology," he says. "When the wind will come I don't know, but I do know that it will come. When the wind comes, the seeds will soar."

"It's our responsibility to prepare parachutes for future generations," says VIA Cord Blood Stem Foundation executive director Chang Nan-chi, who has devoted himself to the storage and research of stem cells. He is also a volunteer for the foundation.