When you live with Huntington’s disease, your world begins to shift in ways you never imagined. Things that once felt routine, such as tying your shoes, remembering appointments, or going for a walk, can suddenly feel like climbing a mountain. For many of us in the Huntington’s community, these…
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If you ever met my wife, Jill, you’d know she has a handful of guidelines that she lives by — quirky, heartfelt philosophies that influence her approach to life. One of my favorites is her unofficial family motto: “Live like you’re a tourist.” It’s a phrase she uses to explain an idea…
One of the most common questions I hear as someone living with Huntington’s disease (HD) is, “Where do you get your medical care?” I always smile and say, “At the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Center of Excellence at the Cleveland Clinic,” because I’m genuinely grateful to be under…
Social worker Jessica Marsolek is the associate director of community services for the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA). My wife, Jill, who is gene-positive for Huntington’s disease (HD), and I met Jessica several years ago at an HDSA-sponsored online support group and were impressed by her…
Mornings with Huntington’s disease can feel unpredictable. Some days I wake up with energy and clarity. Other days, fatigue or chorea greets me before I even reach for the light switch. There was a time when these inconsistencies left me feeling defeated before the day began. But over time,…
“Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?” my wife, Jill, asked, quoting Alanis Morissette, her favorite singer. “Everywhere you look, people are talking about medications like Ozempic and Wegovy to help with weight loss, while the Huntington’s disease community is desperately trying to keep weight on our loved ones.” Jill and…
When I first heard the words “Huntington’s disease,” it felt like the ground beneath me gave way. There was no clear path forward, no instruction manual explaining how to navigate a life that had suddenly been redefined. At the time, I didn’t have the language to express the tidal…
My wife, Jill, has a brilliant way of making complex things simple. She’s what I call an “explainer extraordinaire.” She has a gift for taking in information, processing it, and then breaking it down in a way that’s easy for anyone to understand. Her gift stems from the…
Life with Huntington’s disease is filled with challenges — some visible, some hidden. While the physical and emotional toll often takes center stage, there’s another weight that many in our community carry quietly: the financial burden. From navigating complex insurance policies to managing rising out-of-pocket expenses, the cost of…
My wife, Jill, recently had an “aha!” moment about some of the neurological symptoms her late father experienced during his battle with Huntington’s disease. While folding some laundry, she picked up a large sheet that had been sitting in a chilly part of our home. The…
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