Huntington's Disease [View all]
This evening, my adult children informed me that a young lady I knew well has just died from complications of Huntington's disease. She was 34. Her mother died of this hereditary illness at 38. Her grandmother died young as well. The grandmother was undiagnosed. Everyone thought she was an alcoholic.
This young lady's mother had four children before she was diagnosed. I don't know if she would have had children if she had known.
I taught this girl in a computer class when she was a senior. Before that, her aunt worked for me in the library. Her aunt and uncle took over much of the care of the children when their mother became ill. There was a great aunt who made sure there were plenty of pictures and good memories for the kids. She made sure the kids visited their mom in the nursing home, even toward the end of her life.
The young lady who just died had two children. As sad as it makes me to have seen three generations of this family suffer, I wonder about her decision to have a family. I suppose it is not my business to judge.
The family is collecting money to pay for the funeral. My son speculates that the young lady was never able to get life insurance, given the hereditary nature of the disease.
I am sad for this life cut short in such a terrible way. I hope her children escape this awful disease.
RIP
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