hemochromatosis

you just reminded me of another thing. my dad has hemochromatosis, a well studied genetic defect that causes a person to store iron in tissue to the point of damaging it. the cure, pioneered by the man who was my dads initial doctor, is to slough blood. blood is taken at a rapid pace until the iron is used up replacing the blood cells. diet has no effect as the body will not release any iron of its own accord. this disease affects an estimated 1 in 8 people as "silent carriers" and 1 in 100 to 200 people with the full blown disease. when he was diagnosed about twenty years ago, he was already suffering heart, lung and liver damage. he is now 72 and still has to have blood drawn from time to time. the man could eat poison ivy with no ill effect. when he finds it he tears it out with his bare hands and tosses it away to aid others.

MH, youre a genius.