A Pollyanna is someone who maintains an optimistic perspective, even in the face of difficult situations. As a cup-half-full kind of guy, I like being positive. However, it’s essential to find balance, especially when dealing with mental health or other significant issues. Toxic positivity can be naive…
A Family Tradition - a Column by Carlos Briceño
Fifteen years of marriage have taught me that compromise and understanding remain at the heart of a strong relationship. These elements have become more important since Jill’s diagnosis of Huntington’s disease in 2018. As I reflect on our life since then, I realize how much we have grown individually…
Throughout her journey with Huntington’s disease (HD), my wife, Jill, has taught me a great deal about resilience, love, and understanding. One of the most profound lessons has been her empathetic approach to conflict. Jill has a remarkable ability to step back and try to understand the other…
In a world full of negativity, positive reinforcement is a welcome practice. I’m lucky to be part of a family where it is encouraged and implemented. The process has shaped me into a better husband and caregiver to my wife, Jill, who is gene-positive for Huntington’s disease. Jill…
A neighbor recently told my wife, Jill, and me that her eyesight is getting worse, so she can’t continue reading, which is her favorite pastime. Jill told her about a column I recently wrote about audiobooks, noting that they had helped Jill with her own reading difficulties and…
Watching my wife, Jill, give advice to people touched by Huntington’s disease (HD) during a recent online support group meeting reminded me of the importance of sharing wisdom. Knowing she’s gene-positive for the rare, terminal illness she inherited from her late father has given her the opportunity…
Huntington’s disease, a neurodegenerative condition, can cause symptoms that are often unpredictable and debilitating. My wife, Jill, who is gene-positive for Huntington’s, has provided me with valuable insight into what she feels by coming up with some impressive descriptions of it. Jill shared a poignant description…
As my wife, Jill, and I recently made our way through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, I saw her glance longingly at a Starbucks we passed on the way to our gate. We were headed to Boston to visit family but were running a little…
Ah, spring has finally sprung. Plants are blooming, trees are budding, and the weather is warmer. As a result, my wife, Jill, and I recently decided to take advantage of the beauty exploding around us, along with the good weather, by spending the day in the nation’s capital, close…
From time to time, my son-in-law, René, will ask me “when you were young” questions, usually to poke good-natured fun at me. Here’s what I mean: I was born in 1964, but if you heard what he’s asked me — such as, “Did you use an abacus instead of…
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