As Pat has said, while we wait for gene therapy to become a reality, we all have a job to do.
Thal patients need to take very very good care of themselves so that they can benefit from the treatment. Supplements and chelation are the key to wellness for thals. Low iron levels are essential before any treatment is applied to treating/curing thalassemia.
We also need to encourage those around us to get their iron levels down, as Umair has demonstrated us it is very possible, so let's encourage people around us to chelate chelate!!
Sharmin