Behind the Mask of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is the “cruelest” disease on the planet as it slowly steals our loved ones away from us in so many ways.

This long, progressive, fatal, rare, genetic brain disorder, can have the following symptoms; i.e. cognitive decline, dementia, involuntary movements, behavior and personality changes, unsteady gait, dystonia, slurred speech, swallowing problems that can lead to aspiration, unable to do activities of daily living or their daily self-care activities

The slow progression of the disease, over 10-20 years, is when the Mask of Huntington’s disease begins to hide the face that was loved.

The mother/father/spouse/brother/sister/aunt/uncle face you knew cannot be seen anymore.  During this stressful and energy depleting journey, one can lose sight of the person they once knew and loved. Through the years, HD families continue to care for loved ones because this is what we do for the people we love.  They are still there, behind the Mask of Huntington’s disease.

John and I were lucky that his sisters, Lora Marcia and Cindy, never become angry, combative.  They stayed their sweet self.

We Can Never Lose HOPE…..