- S
Hello my name is Dominic , and I am the husband of a Huntingtons Disease Sufferer , Barbara , my beautiful and courageous wife !!! Let me start by explaining the title of this campiagn " My Wife Has Huntingtons Disease " .... Unfortunately HD Sufferers often get confused with someone who is " Intoxicated " , mostly having unbalanced walking and slurred speech , and all too often falling down !! So at times I am asked what is the " problem " with your wife , and I end up having to tell them " My Wife Has Huntingtons Disease " , so goes the title .........At the time of our marriage Barbara was a well known Accountant working at " Quail Lodge " in Carmel , Ca ( and a few yrs later Embassy Suites in Monterey Ca ) ! However , after a few months of marriage I started noticing a constant twitch on her right index finger , and finally decided to ask her about it ! She then went on to tell me her Family History of Huntingtons Chorea ............ Her Mother and Grandmother both passed away from the illness around the age of 65 yrs old (as HD is usually found in the Female Gene ) !! Years later after they were all tested , she now has an older brother , a younger brother and younger sister who suffers from the illness as well !!! So in 2009 , knowing that there was a 50 / 50 chance of her getting the illness , we decided to drive up from Monterey to the UC Medical Center in San Francisco to have her diagnosed !!! Unfortunately the diagnosis was positive , and she was informed that she has Huntingtons Chorea ......... Here are a few facts about "Huntingtons Chorea" : Huntingtons Disease is a Neurological Genetic Disorder that affects "The Cognitive Abilities" of the sufferer , and can lead to "Major Motor Disfunction" , "Balance Control" ( causing frequent falls ) , "Choking" , "Memory Loss" , "Strong Emotional Outbursts" , and "Uncontrollable Movement" !! In describing to people who asks me about Huntingtons Chorea , I tell them that to Me it is a cross between " Parkinsons " , " MS " , " Alzheimers " and " Torets Syndrome " all rolled into one illness ; a Very devastating and uncurable disease !!!! However , as I also say to those same people all the time : My Wife Barbara is " A Warrior Woman " , because despite this terrible illness that she is going through She keeps a Smile on her Pretty Face more often than I expect , never complains , has The Most Optimistic Spirit I have ever known , and people Fall in Love with her instantly !!! Also , Barbara is an Awesome Jewelry Artist and many people , not only in the Monterey area are wearing her pieces , but people from all over the world have purchased pieces that she made !!! Unfortunately she has become unable to use her hands to make the necklaces , bracelets and earrings that she is well known for , however fortunately she can still use her mind to design pieces , and has a husband who is willing to make them for her lol ............. Although Barbara is now in a very nice care facility in Watsonville,Ca , I am now seeking donations to help fund getting a Lease / Rental Home that is Disabled Ready ; ie, Wheelchair Accessibility , Shower Bars , room for Hospital Bed , and paying for Nursing Staff , etc !!! During this " Quality of Life Time " for Her , Barbara and I both truly want to have her Home , where she can be Safe , Secure , well taken care of thru Hospice Care and IHSS ( In Home Support Services ) comming in to take care of her , where she can enjoy her Final Time with Me and I with Her , at Home and NOT have End of Life in a Care Facility ; as did her Mom unfortunately !!! We would both truly welcome and apreciate any and all donations to raise enough money to afford a nice Handicable Accessible Home so Barbara can live out her Final Time with Us in a Peaceful and Joyful Love Filled Home ........ Thank You All for reading and for Your Support !!! Much Love n Joy , Dominic

