Huntington’s Disease was introduced into our lives a short 4 years ago. For years, my Mom would have random body movements and we never really knew why. It was because of a 20/20 episode that one of our family members had seen, that had the shown the same exact symptoms my Mom had been experiencing. We had performed numerous web searches on what Huntington’s Disease was and quickly booked an appointment for her to be tested. Low and behold, she had tested positive for this rare disease. We had finally found out what we had tried to figure out for so long.
However, our battles had not ended there, they had just begun. She was placed on so many different medications to try and help her with her body movements, we still have not found the best source of caloric intake to help her gain weight, and with every day we are faced with something new to overcome.
Because of this rare disease, and how ignorant people can be towards something that they know nothing about, people stare. You can imagine how self-conscious that could make a person feel. Last year (2011), was the first year that we had participated in the Hope Walk. This was the first time since my Mom had been diagnosed that she felt completely comfortable with herself. She found a community that she felt a sense of belonging in because they knew exactly what she was going through and shared their stories of their own battles and success. She was welcomed with open arms and treated like a queen for the day, one of which she is every day.
It is because of this organization and what it represents my Mom had been given HOPE once again. HOPE to educate the community on what HD is, HOPE to help her get through each and every day, HOPE to Find a Cure.
Your donation not only helps for the research to support my Mom, but to support others like her, and those that are yet to be diagnosed. It took us 45 years to diagnose my Mom due to HD’s rarity and her doctors being unfamiliar with the disease, please help prevent any other family from experiencing what we have…. Please help contribute to my Mom’s HOPE.