My wife’s quick reflexes offer an important lesson
Even with Huntington's disease, Jill's spirit remains razor-sharp
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Last month, I walked into our kitchen to find what looked like a crime scene. Blood drops dotted the counter, and my wife, Jill, stood at the sink with bandages wrapped around several fingers, laughing as she rinsed off our newly sharpened knives.
My heart sank. My first thought wasn’t about the blood or the cuts; it was about her chorea. I’d noticed the involuntary movements becoming more pronounced lately — small, jerky motions that always seem to sneak up on her. Had her Huntington’s disease caused this accident?
“What happened?” I asked, wondering if this incident was similar to another kitchen accident that occurred three years ago.
Jill turned to me with that infectious laugh of hers. “You’re going to love this,” she said, holding up a broken leather strap. “I got this new knife sharpening stone that’s supposed to be held together with this genius little strap system. Well, the strap broke right as I was working on the big chef’s knife.”
She demonstrated the motion, miming how the freshly sharpened blade had slipped from her grip. “My reflexes kicked in, and I tried to catch it,” she said. “Multiple times, apparently.”
She wiggled her bandaged fingers. “Turns out catching a falling knife is like catching a falling star: beautiful in theory, painful in practice.”
Cute joke, but she could have seriously injured herself. As I started to tell her my concerns, something she said made me pause.
“Carlos, did you notice how fast I reacted?” she asked. “My brain saw the knife falling and immediately sent the signal to my hands to catch it. That’s real-time processing, honey.”
She was right, and it hit me like a revelation. With Huntington’s disease, cognitive processing can slow down significantly. Her brain might have registered the falling knife, but been unable to coordinate a response quickly enough.
She might have stood there watching it fall, her mind knowing what to do but her neural pathways too damaged to execute the command in time. Or her impaired judgment might have prevented her from recognizing the danger at all.
Instead, her reflexes had instantly fired. Perhaps not wisely, but definitely quickly.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Jill said, reading my expression. “You’re worried about whether Huntington’s played a part in this. Maybe my balance is off, or my grip strength isn’t what it used to be. And you’re probably right. But look at what worked, Carlos. My brain is still talking to my hands fast enough to make split-second decisions.”
I had to admit she had a point. I could see the positive in what happened, just not the same way she did. While she celebrated her reflexes, I was calculating all the ways it could have gone wrong.
“Next time you want to sharpen anything, wait until I’m home, OK?” I asked.
“Deal,” she agreed. “But only because I’ve already sharpened everything inside and outside the house.”
Later that evening, I discovered just how thorough she’d been. Every knife gleamed. The scissors looked like they could cut silk. Even our yard tools — the pruning shears and hedge trimmers — sparkled with dangerous efficiency.
What struck me most was how positive she felt about her reaction time. And here’s what I’ve learned about the placebo effect: If Jill believes she’s doing well, that belief becomes a medicine all its own. You might say her optimism isn’t just an attitude; it’s a cutting-edge treatment plan.
Some days, Huntington’s disease feels like it’s stealing pieces of the woman I love. But days like this remind me that Jill’s spirit, her ability to find light in dark moments, remains razor-sharp.
Note: Huntington’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Huntington’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Huntington’s disease.
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