My mom’s younger sister died tonight after a long battle with Huntington’s Disease. Here she is, almost four years ago at my house.

Huntington disease (HD) is a hereditary brain disorder with devastating effects on both mind and body.

• One in every 1,000 Canadians is touched by HD – for example, as an affected individual, person at risk, friend, family member or caregiver.
• One in every 10,000 Canadians has Huntington disease.
• Every child of a person with HD has a 50% risk of inheriting the disease.

My mother is one of five children, and she is the only one of the five who didn’t inherit the disease (80%). This means that neither I nor my siblings can get it. Mom’s other younger sister (Suzie) passed away several years ago and her older brother (Patty) passed away several months ago. She only has one sibling left, an older sister (Patricia), who has been in a home for several years now with the disease. It is very difficult to watch as a loved one slowly deteriorates from the disease.

I am very saddened at her passing. She was (as were each of my mother’s family) a very good person who had been through a lot of hardship in life, especially early on. She has found peace and is now with Uncle Patty and Aunt Suzie.

God bless you Aunt Rosie.