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Response to: Ann Gibbons and Debbie Hurlbert re: Blood donations and Hemochromatosis It is correct that old-fashioned "blood-letting" is the treatment for subject disease which can affect various organs of the body, particularly the liver. I had a brother die in September of last year who besides hemochromatosis, suffered from diabetes, Parkinson's and a chronic back injury from WWII. He was 69. I also have another brother, age 62 who has hemochromatosis and he has monthly treatments of blood-letting. I have read in a medical book that especialy male relatives of these patients should be checked. I have alerted my two sons to this. It is said to be mainly a man's disease since women by nature lose more blood. Our mother died at age 69 from a different blood condition - thrombocytopenia purpura. Her system failed to produce platelets, and she lost so much blood, which lowered her resistance until she finally contracted pneumonia. In my own case, I was a blood donor for a number of years and gave gallons of blood for the local blood bank in support of various relatives and church members who could not contribute for their own family blood support. It was easy for me to do and I loved doing it because I know how important it is when needed. I have type 0- and instead of going automatically, I went on call as needed many times for surgery, etc. I also tried to contribute to the pharesis program, but something happened that caused me to shake uncontrollably and they stopped with less than enough for a tranfusion because of my reaction. Soon after that I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and because of my taking Sinemet and Eldepryl, the privilege was denied me. For a long time after that I couldn't keep from crying when I heard of need of blood supply for the area Blood Bank. In retrospect, I wonder if the reaction was due to my undiagnosed (at that time) PD. (I apologize for the length of my remarks.) Thanks for contributions from so many of you to the Digest. I love it! Ruth (73/4yrs)