Every day families around the world are confronted with challenges in their lives; a devastating Huntington’s disease (HD) diagnosis, a cancer diagnosis, a challenging medical diagnosis, an autistic child, a miscarriage, a significant death, divorce and many other threats. I don’t know of a family that has not had one at some time in their life. 
With that said, I took a risk for LOVE with my then boyfriend John, who I ultimately married, with an unknown gene status for Huntington’s disease. I decided that I was willing to take that risk because I believed, “Love that ‘endures all things’ is love that hopes in the face of circumstances that often seem dark”.
John and I had dark times, walking beside Lora, Marcia and Cindy, John’s three sisters, on their HD journey for over 24 years. Plus, living at risk for HD is stressful and can challenge a relationship, but John and showed the world that love can conquer any hardships, difficulties, and challenges.
We Can Never Lose HOPE…..
To read John and my love story while living in the shadow of HD, read 
my memoir, Watching Their Dance: Three Sisters, a Genetic Disease and Marrying into a Family at Risk for Huntington’s.
I’m a Huntington’s disease advocate, Chair for the HDSA San Francisco Bay Area Affiliate, a blogger and an author. Visit my website and learn about HD: https://theresecrutchermarin.com
