Genes, Blood, and Courage: A Boy Called Immortal Sword

Rating:
Summary: outstanding
Review: Although when I bought the book, I expected more of a focus on the boy of the title "Immortal Sword", I found it was much more than a description of a child's struggle with thalassemia. While Immortal Sword served as the focal point for the book, this was really an account by the author (the physician who treated the boy) of his developing interest in understanding thalasemmia and the search for more effective treatments. The author is a gifted writer able to explain complicated medical concepts in a concise and simple way to a lay audience. One can also sense his dedication to his patients (he even plans a surprise birthday party for Immortal Sword-- how many doctor's become close enough to their patient's to do that?). Although thalasemmia is not a commonly discussed disease like sickle cell, it can be devastating and does affect certain ethnic groups--particularly mediterranean in origin-- more than others. Overall, a very interesting book from the humanistic standpoint of understanding this disorder's impact on the lives of the sufferer as well as tracing the medical development in the understanding of the disorder and its treatment.