Columns

It’s somehow already Thanksgiving week here in the U.S. Where did the year go? This is the perfect time to reflect on the year and count our blessings. Nobody’s life is perfect, and those of us in the Huntington’s community have definitely had our fair share of struggles and tough…

Since my wife, Jill, tested positive for Huntington’s disease (HD) in 2018, I’ve learned a lot about the disease and its symptoms. Prior to her diagnosis, Jill’s HD journey started with depression, similar to many others who suffer from Huntington’s. I’ve written about this topic before, with Jill’s…

We live in a house with hardwood floors and three flights of wooden stairs. For my wife, Jill, who is gene-positive for Huntington’s, and our dog, this setup is a danger zone. Let me explain. The floors are beautiful, but they are slippery. We are reminded of how…

I never knew what participating in medical research was all about when I was growing up. For 10 years, I was an active member of the Huntington’s disease community, but I had no clue about research. One reason was because from 1999 to 2009 there wasn’t much research to participate…

Moving is considered one of the most stressful events in people’s lives. After moving from the Midwest to the East Coast in the U.S. earlier this year, my wife, Jill, and I certainly agree with that statement. But she’d add something else to that list of stressful events: finding…

This past summer, I had to take my car to a mechanic. It had logged more than 122,000 miles and needed some major work done to it. My wife, Jill, went with me but she drove her car so I could leave mine at the mechanic’s shop, which…

As a Huntington’s disease (HD) community advocate, I am always trying to listen and learn from anyone who may help the cause. This means listening to people outside the HD community, as well as those who are part of it. Earlier this year, I was connected to a young…

It’s not enough. That’s what I kept thinking when my wife, Jill, and I were watching the 7th Annual Freeze HD virtual event on Oct. 16. This entertaining and emotional benefit featured a silent auction, music performances, and celebrities who shared how Huntington’s disease (HD) has affected family members…

My wife, Jill, who is gene-positive with Huntington’s disease (HD), is a born caregiver. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with her. I watched her take care of her father, who also was diagnosed with HD, as he started to decline physically and mentally. It was an…

I’ve worn many hats as a Huntington’s disease (HD) community advocate over the past 25 years, after my mom was diagnosed in the early 1990s. I’ve been a caregiver to my mom, a person at risk, a grassroots fundraiser, a public speaker, a pharmaceutical sales rep for an…