Dear Stanley, 

I read your latest post on Jewishgen. I just wanted you to know that you are my inspiration. When my grandchild Henry was born with Fanconi Anemia which is a deadly genetic mutation, I made a vow that I would leave no stone unturned until I found everyone at risk. The disease is caused by any of five different genes, each one related to a different ethnic type and the Ashkenazi Jewish variety makes up about 15% of the total cases. The Jewish gene is the only one with a marker and is detectable at 10 weeks into a pregnancy at which point the pregnancy can be terminated. One of every 89 Ashkenazi Jews is a carrier. There are only 275 diagnosed case in this country and 200 in the rest of the world. 

As of this moment we have tracked the gene to my paternal grandfather and are in the process of testing for carriers in that family. We are lucky that the family has a very uncommon name "Zwetschkenbaum" and that they are all related and come from a very small area in Galicia--the town of Kolbuszowa and Majdan Krolewski which is almost a suburb. My daughter-in-law's ancestors also come from the same area so we are well on the way to finding what we need to find. 

Your success has increased my own determination and I wish to congratulate and thank you because not only are you helping your own family but trail blazing in a very crucial area. Your last posting gave me ideas for what I can do as soon as the next few tests are over. 

Thanks again.
Phyllis Goldberg 
See Henry's Home page at http://www.hsg.org/