HD Family Life

A Lucky Falling Out of Love Story for Valentines Day

Will Brown, Mon, 02/18/2013

I know when we fell in love.  She was dating my roommate in prep school. Yes, I went to a snotty boy’s boarding school in New England.  I wasn’t from a wealthy family, but had a working scholarship.  I worked in the kitchen every day to earn my way through. She was from an old family and went to a snotty private girl’s school.  I’m not sure how it happened – it just did.  I was kind of a jock – co-captain of the hockey team and a starting attackman on the lacrosse team. Maybe that attracted her.  She was smart and physically attractive.

How to Start a Walking Program

Will Brown, Wed, 01/16/2013

We all know that exercise is beneficial for everyone.  It’s particularly important for people with, or at-risk for HD.  A New Year’s resolution made and kept will make you look and feel better.  Do you have to go to a gym 6 days a week and sweat bullets to get in shape?  NO!!!  Do you have to run marathons?  NO!!!  Do you have to spend a fortune on fancy equipment?  NO!!!

The Effects of Huntington's

Kelly B, Tue, 02/01/2011

Having HD can and does make my life extremely complicated. Everyday things that can come easily to other people can become a huge struggle for us. Sometimes I feel like I am somewhat of a ticking time bomb because I have done incredibly well to make it as many years as I have with this disease. I know without a doubt that I am on borrowed time right now. The need to make every single day count before I progress too far is ever present. The fact that I am very easily confused add a lot

Early Pre-Huntington's Symptoms?

Kelly B, Wed, 05/05/2010

The question of when “onset” occurs has always been a hard one to answer. People in HD families have known for many years that their loved ones' deterioration with HD occurred years before the doctors would or could diagnose it. Our HD does not become real to the medical world until the day we are diagnosed as symptomatic. In the meanwhile we can feel like we are going crazy because we know something is seriously wrong inside of us deep inside but it can be invisible to others. I

Family

Kelly B, Tue, 12/22/2009

Huntington’s Disease is a whole family affair. There is not a single member of any HD family out there who is not affected in some way by their HD family member(s). There are many sad stories, but there are just as many people out there who are fighting their own HD dragon with a bravery that makes their family and friends proud. %TR% My oldest sister is one of those HD heroes I speak of. Each time I see her she has declined further into her own HD journey. She is a window into my futu

Managing Medications from a Caregiver's Perspective

Dave Kendall, Sat, 09/19/2009

Medications are one of the most difficult issues facing Huntington’s Disease (HD) caregivers and patients (pHD). What medications do we need? Who should prescribe medications? What dosage? Why do doctors prescribe one medication for a patient and other doctors prescribe another drug? Are medications really needed? Why is my pHD taking so many medications? What are the short- and long-term side effects? What happens if I stop the medications? Can I change the dosage or change the t
Dave Kendall

Using Your Words

Kelly B., Sat, 09/19/2009

Learning how to use your words can take a lifetime to learn. Learning to verbalize what we want or need from those around us can be a scary thing. Some people just are not good at expressing themselves. It is an art that takes a lot of practice, and it all begins with the realization that the people around us are NOT mind readers. No one but you knows what is inside your head at any given time. Peoples needs often go unmet for the sake of just expressing them. When people understand exactly
Kelly B.

Persons with Huntington's Disease Jailed in Juan De Costa, Colombia, South America, Part 7

Phil Hardt, Sat, 08/29/2009

Town Meetings Before leaving Colombia we would hold a town meeting for everyone who had HD or who was at-risk for it. We gave presentations, answered questions, handed out all of the information we had brought on HD and fed everyone. We also passed out clothes that I took down that were donated by a support group of the Hereditary Neurological Disease Centre and also donated by local Catholic school children here in Mesa. Hundreds attended each of our meetings. I had to pay extra for ea
Phil Hardt

Persons with Huntington's Disease Jailed in Juan De Costa, Colombia, South America, Part 6

Phil Hardt, Sat, 08/29/2009

Jos? Ontoniel Jos? was confined to the “jail” cell in his own home until right after we arrived at his home to visit. When I asked his spouse if she was still using her “jail” she said “no” but when I asked to use the restroom (to see for myself) she refused and said she needed to clean it first. She disappeared for about 10 minutes before returning with her husband all cleaned up and told me it was now okay for me to use the restroom. I could tell fr
Phil Hardt
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