In late July, before my nephew, Dylan, moved to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, in the Caucasus region, for several months, I played several songs for him while we were in his car. One of them was a live version of “Fragile” by Sting. I know Dylan’s taste…
A Family Tradition - a Column by Carlos Briceño
Huntington’s is a strange and deadly disease. It’s not like cancer. Only 5-10% of cancer is hereditary, and what’s passed down is the abnormal gene that can lead to cancer, not the cancer itself. It’s not like heart disease. Certain risk factors, such as high cholesterol, can be…
For more than two years, I have shared my family’s journey with Huntington’s, including learning about the disease, living through my wife and daughter testing gene-positive, and working to accept their diagnoses. This time, I want to share some advice from Jill, my wife: Let go of people who are…
A soundtrack has been playing in the back of my mind for weeks now, ever since I last saw my wife, Jill. Following are some of the songs that have been on my mental playlist: “So Far Away” by Dire Straits “So Far Away” by Carole King (different…
My wife, Jill, and I celebrated our wedding anniversary last month. We like to joke that we don’t keep track of the years because it seems like yesterday when we got married. Some years, as a gift, I like to write her something romantic or funny. This year, I decided…
Why I Choose to Be Like Water
“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” Shakespeare once wrote. And don’t I know it. Recently, the big news in my home is we’re moving to the East Coast, as my wife, Jill, and I want to move closer to our daughter, who lives in Boston, and other family…
Dear people working to find a cure for Huntington’s disease (HD), I imagine you all have various reasons for seeking a cure. Near the top of your list is probably a love for science and a challenge. Or, perhaps you view HD like George Huntington, whose medical observations of people…
My wife, Jill, and I recently bought a new car. While this might not seem related to the Huntington’s disease community, it actually is, because it involves decision-making, a big topic for families who deal with the disease. I’m thrilled about the new car, as well as another important development…
Look! A Squirrel!
My wife, Jill, has diagnosed me with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). (Look! A squirrel!) For the record, she is not a doctor, though she wishes she could play one on television. All joking aside, Jill has this uncanny ability to identify people’s issues. I remember the first time…
In early May, cybercriminals known as DarkSide launched a devastating ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, one of the United States’ largest pipeline systems for refined oil products, which transports around 100 million gallons of fuel daily between Texas and New York. This attack reminded me of Huntington’s disease.
Recent Posts
- What the holidays mean when living with Huntington’s disease
- $12M grant will back first trial of stem cell therapy for Huntington’s
- A tribute to the kindness of strangers in life with Huntington’s
- How to support someone who is planning for future care
- Antipsychotics improve functional capacity, independence in HD
- Despite dwindling resources, hope endures among researchers
- The ‘invisible’ symptoms of Huntington’s that people don’t see
- Genetic variant delays Huntington’s onset by up to 23 years: Study
- Watching Huntington’s switch roles in our marriage was jarring
- The gift of community is what I’m most thankful for this year