The mother was diagnosed with thalassemia minor and she also presented with severe iron deficiency because of menorrhagia that often needed to be treated with intravenous iron (Hb 8.5 g/dL, Hct 27.5, MCV 68.8 fL, MCH 21.30 pg, HbA2 4.9 % and HbF 1.4 %) (see Table 1; Fig. 1a, b). The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is Iron deficiency anemia.