This Valentine’s Day, love won in the most unexpected way

Valentine’s Day is often associated with love, chocolates, and grand romantic gestures. But for me, this year, it became something much more profound — an unforgettable day of relief, gratitude, and the reaffirmation of hope. It was the day my nephew DeMarco Duhaney learned he was free from Huntington’s disease (HD).

DeMarco is 28 years old, a thoughtful and kind-hearted soul who’s always held a special place in my heart. When he told me he was getting tested for HD a few weeks ago, my heart sank. As someone who’s been diagnosed with HD, I know all too well the weight of those results and the uncertainty leading up to them. When he asked me to be there with him at the HD Center of Excellence for the reading of his results, I didn’t hesitate.

We sat together in the waiting room, both of us anxious. We made small talk to hide our nervousness. I had a strong suspicion that his results would be positive and had prepared myself mentally to support him if he received that life-changing news. I remember the moment the medical assistant called his name. My heart pounded in my chest as we followed him down the hall to a small office. We sat down, exchanging nervous glances, as we waited for the doctor and the genetic counselor to enter.

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When they arrived, they greeted us warmly, but there was no small talk. They got right down to business. The genetic counselor turned to DeMarco and asked, “Do you want to hear your genetic test results?”

He took a deep breath and answered, “Yes.”

I reached for his hand and held it tightly, bracing myself for what was coming next. But instead of the devastating confirmation I’d feared, the genetic counselor smiled and said, “I have good news! You are negative! You have a CAG repeat of 15.”

For a moment, I couldn’t comprehend what I’d just heard. It took a second for the words to sink in, and then a tidal wave of emotions rushed over me. Relief. Joy. Gratitude.

I turned to DeMarco, my eyes welling up with tears. He looked puzzled, still processing the news. “I thought I had Huntington’s,” he said cautiously.

The doctor and the genetic counselor both reassured him with warm smiles. “No, you don’t.”

I squeezed his hand and said, “You won the genetic lottery! Thank God! I’m so happy!”

He exhaled, still stunned. “So what happens now?” he asked, as if there had to be some next step in this long-feared process.

The doctor smiled again and said, “Live your life! Congratulations! You, your children, and future generations are free from HD!”

Those words struck me like a lightning bolt. Free. Free from HD. The very thing that had shaped so much of my own existence, that had brought fear and uncertainty into my life, would not touch him or his children. The weight of generational trauma lifted in that moment. He smiled, still absorbing the magnitude of it all.

To celebrate, we went to the cafeteria for lunch. He was still a bit dazed, still grappling with the idea that he was truly free of the disease he had feared. “I was so sure,” he kept saying. “I just knew I had it.”

I reassured him again. “DNA testing proved that you’re fine. This is real.”

We talked about his future. What he wanted to do. Where he wanted to go. What life could be like without the shadow of HD hanging over him. And I was excited for him in a way that I could never be for myself. His future was his to shape, unhindered by the genetic burden that people with HD carry.

Valentine’s Day will never just be a holiday about romantic love for me again. It will forever be the day I witnessed a miracle in my family.

DeMarco’s negative result is more than just a personal victory; it’s a beacon of hope. It’s a reminder that even amid hardship, life has moments of pure, unfiltered joy. It’s a gift that I’ll treasure forever.

My heart overflows with gratitude. I know that not everyone receives good news on genetic testing day. I know that many people leave that office feeling the weight of their diagnosis settle in. I know because I was one of them. But this Valentine’s Day, love came in an unexpected form — the love of family, the love of life, and the love of a future unburdened by HD.

To have a nephew who is gene-negative is nothing short of a blessing. This holiday, love won, and I’ll never forget it.

Note: Huntington’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Huntington’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Huntington’s disease.