A Family Tradition - a Column by Carlos Briceño

After my wife, Jill, was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease (HD) in 2018, we gained a new level of appreciation for people affected by terrible storms and other natural disasters. The rare disease she inherited made us realize, in deeper ways, that what she’s experiencing as her neurodegenerative illness progresses…

My wife, Jill, has always been a fighter, no question about it. Before her Huntington’s disease diagnosis, she’d march into any battle against anyone or anything without hesitation, no matter the stakes. After she learned that she’d experience the same decline from Huntington’s as her father did, though, she seemed to…

If there’s one thing I know about my wife, Jill, who’s gene-positive for Huntington’s disease (HD), it’s that she seems to have a funny relationship with electronics. Over the years, her cellphones have developed quirks: missed calls, delayed texts, ghost vibrations when there’s nothing there. It’s not that she’s…

Death wasn’t something I thought much about when I was younger. My mortality felt distant and abstract. Then, over a 16-year period, everything changed: My two older sisters died, one from cancer and the other from a tragic accident, and my parents also passed away. During that time frame,…

In 2018, in the months leading up to when my wife, Jill, was diagnosed as gene-positive with Huntington’s disease (HD), we kept our worries to ourselves about the symptoms she was exhibiting, including chorea and depression. We knew they were classic signs of HD, but it was difficult to…

I’ve always loved watching the Olympics. Seeing athletes in dazzling form and fierce competition compels my attention, and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris was no different. Little did I know that watching one event would lead my wife, Jill, and I to have a profound conversation about honesty,…

My wife Jill‘s love knows no bounds. She’s patient, forgiving, and understands me deeply. Yet, I sometimes act without considering how my decisions affect her. Here’s an example: I like to speak in public. I frequently discuss my faith, and although Jill doesn’t always share my beliefs, she…

For years, my wife, Jill, had asked me to watch a TV show she thought I’d love. I spent all of that time saying no, but this year, I finally broke down and watched “The Sopranos.” As it played, I found myself reflecting on something profound: Grieving doesn’t get…

My wife, Jill, and I often find ourselves in airports with free time while visiting family across the country. To escape the chaos in waiting areas, we often watch TV shows on my iPad. Recently, we finished HBO’s “Succession,” a drama about a global media…

As someone whose wife and daughter are gene-positive for Huntington’s disease (HD), I’m always interested in any new studies and advancements in treatment. So when a friend recently called to let me know that the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) is hosting a meeting in November…