This is Andrea Spinelli and she has it all. She came from Hungary where she was a winning gymnast and is now a U.S. citizen. She has four grown children, all of them special to her and also assets to society for reasons vocational, professional, and personal. She was a paramedic and a registered nurse, and married a guy who was once her partner on duty transporting patients and saving lives. Her husband is still a seasoned paramedic who trains new recruits while on duty. She is beautiful inside and out, like a ray of sunshine, and she enjoys her pets, her rowing club, her knowledge and sharing of nutrition for everyone's benefit and better life.. She has devoted friends and other family members who love her.

She also has Huntington's disease. She was diagnosed two years ago and has since made it her mission to hold back the anticipated symptoms that want to take over her thoughts and activities. She is doing a great job with medications, diet and exersize. Andi won't give up because she owes it to her children, who have a 50% chance of having the gene for HD, and she wants to endure the fight for them. A cure could come in their lifetime. It is an inspiration to see her march forward while her mood, speech, movement and spirit become increasingly debilitated into someone else. The cloud of depression that lingers not only affects her, but all those around her.

Having had to quit working, the lack of her income has caused her husband to have to work extreme overtime in a job that is becoming naturally challenging for any normal person, physically and mentally. What can't be changed is that she has Huntington's disease but her ability to cope mentally with the future can be helped with much needed cognitive therapy, not totally covered by her insurance.

There are no extra funds in their budget, just increasing medical bills, living expenses and depleted spirit. While the needed cognitive therapy is not a fortune of money, it is impossible for she and her husband to add to their burden. And the therapy could make all the difference in preventing a collapse in the stability they are struggling to preserve.

This is where those who love Andi can help with even a small donation, no amount is too little, to create a fund she can use to try to make the rest of her life as fulfilling as she can, knowing that her wellness of mind will mean a certain peace for her and everyone around her.

Please donate for our sweet Andi, thanks so much.

- Written by Mary Ann Spinelli Andrea's sister-in-law

If you want to learn more about Huntington's Disease please visit the Huntington's Disease Society of America's webpage http://hdsa.org/what-is-hd/