A data storage device stores a data unit in a memory page of a storage block along with an error correction code unit for the data unit. Additionally, the data storage device stores an error correction code unit for the data unit in a memory page of another storage block. In various embodiments, one or both of the error correction code units form an error correction code for correcting data bit errors in the data unit. Because the memory page containing the data unit does not have a storage capacity for simultaneously storing the error correction code and the data unit, the data storage device is capable of correcting a greater number of data bit errors in the data unit by using the error correction code in comparison to using an error correction code that would fit in the memory page.