Two years ago, I went to reconnect with my grandma on my father's side. There I learned that my grandfather had died years ago from Huntington's Disease. I knew nothing about this disease at the time so I went home and began to research. This is when I discovered that HD is a genetic disease that my father had a 50% chance of having. I was pretty upset at the idea that my poor father whom I had just gotten in touch with after 15 years could have this horrible disease. We hadn't spoken much, but there was something about his mannerisms that made me worry that he did in fact have the gene.
I told my closest friends and family about my discovery, and about the bad news... my brother and I had a 25% chance of inheriting the gene as well. I was definitely concerned about this possibility because if my father had this disease, which he very well could have, then I would have a 50% chance of having the gene as well. Those, to me, were not good odds. I didn't feel optimistic, but rather was realistic about the fact that I could have the gene.
For awhile, I set this issue aside and continued to live my life. I wasn't prepared to do anything about my findings just yet. I needed time to think and research the realities of this awful disease. A lot of time went by and finally I knew I needed to get tested. I wanted to start a family and I needed to know if I had the gene so that I wouldn't unknowingly pass it on to my children. That's a thought I cannot bear.
