Neuro Note #3 "Facing Death Full of Life"

   Facing Death Full of Life - Huntington's disease

    In the Ted Talk, "Facing Death Full of Life" Danielle Valenti talks about her mother's death and her recent diagnosis of Huntington's disease. Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder that breaks down the nerve cells in the brain and overtime will cause involuntary movements. Life expectancy after diagnosis is often ten to thirty years. 

    Danielle's mother hid her diagnosis of Huntington's disease from her for two years, but she had good reason. Danielle's mother did not want her worrying about her dying during the prominent years of her life. She also knew her daughter would have a chance of inheriting the disease since children have a fifty-percent chance of inheriting the gene from a biological parent who has it. Sadly, Huntington's disease did not kill her mother but starvation did. Her mother refused food when she was hospitalized and died sixty seven days later. Danielle was frustrated but understood this was her mother's choice. She did not want her nor her daughter to suffer. A few months later, Danielle realizes she is not only grieving her mother's passing, but is avoiding finding out her fate. Did she inherit the gene? Unfortunately, Danielle did inherit the gene for Huntington's disease at the age of twenty nine. Her doctor informed her she could wake up tomorrow or twenty years from now and be symptomatic. The purpose of her Ted Talk was to educate people on Huntington's disease and how she overcame feelings of her own diagnosis since she knows other people will also have the same fate. 

    

    I chose "Facing Death Full of Life" because I enjoy listening to Ted Talks and the title of this intrigued me. We learn about different diseases and how they affect the person but it's rare you get a first hand account of how it affected the loved ones around them. This Ted Talk correlates with my Neuro Aspect class because she talks about the symptoms and life span that we learned when we were on the topic of Huntington's disease. I think anyone entering the medical field should take the time to listen or read someone's personal experience with any medical diagnosis to fully understand and empathize with them and their family. 

References 

Valenti, D. (2015, December). Facing Death Full of Life. Ted Talk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRwCdmewl0

Huntington's disease. (2022, May). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/huntingtons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356117#:~:text=The%20time%20from%20the%20first,increase%20the%20risk%20of%20suicide.