Huntington’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, has affected several generations of my family. So far, it’s taken the lives of my dad, grandad, and great-grandmother. I tested negative for Huntington’s disease in the summer of 2023. In the early stages of my dad’s disease, my friends and I…
The United Kingdom’s Mental Capacity Act, introduced in 2005, states that a person is unable to make a decision if they cannot do one or more of the following: “Understand the information relevant to the decision “Retain that information for long enough to make the decision “Use or weigh…
Recently, as I sat on the couch enjoying the sound and smell of my wife Jill’s tea brewing, I thought about life’s simple pleasures. Normally, Saturdays are packed with all the chores and errands we didn’t do during the week, but not this day. The only thing on our agenda…
“My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.” — Stephen Hawking Huntington’s disease affected both my dad’s and my brother Gavin’s…
I’ve come to a realization that has impacted my viewpoint about the importance of voting and advocating for political candidates who prioritize healthcare. It was prompted by my wife Jill’s diagnosis of Huntington’s disease (HD) and the challenges we’ve faced navigating the healthcare system as we deal with…
“The waste of money cures itself, for soon there is no more waste.” – M.W. Harrison The cognitive damage caused by Huntington’s disease has strongly affected my brother, Gavin. It’s part of the reason he is unable to manage his financial affairs on his own. We saw…
Recently, I’ve found myself grappling with a complex mix of emotions. On the one hand, I’m filled with admiration for the incredible strength and positivity that my wife, Jill, exudes every day in the face of Huntington’s disease (HD). On the other hand, there’s a lingering sadness…
“In sickness and in health, for as long as we both shall live.” These words took on deeper meaning for our family recently after I underwent genetic testing for Huntington’s disease. Huntington’s disease took our dad’s life in May 2020, and my brother, Gavin, was…
As regular readers of this column know, I love my wife, Jill, with all my heart. I love her simplicity. I love her sense of humor. And of course, I love that she’s the mother of our wonderful daughter, Alexus. Still, I have to admit…
“It’s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.” — Rumi, scholar and poet Huntington’s disease has so far affected four generations of our family. We lost our dad to Huntington’s in May 2020 and…
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