My dad, his ‘incurable’ disease, and hope at last
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This episode is titled:
My dad, his ‘incurable’ disease, and hope at last
Notable Quotes
"The word that people kept using was hope. For the first time, there had been hope."
"I felt like winning the lottery, becoming a billionaire. Or getting a second chance at life."
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Get More InsightsEpisode Summary
In this episode of The Guardian podcast, Josh Halliday opens up about his father's battle with Huntington's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that has progressively taken away his mobility, speech, and independence over the last 17 years. Josh, who feared he might also inherit the condition, discusses the emotional toll it has taken on him and his family while recalling fond memories of his father's vibrant past.
The conversation details the impact of Huntington's on patients and their loved ones, highlighting the disease’s cruel symptoms and its devastating progression. Josh reflects on his family’s experience, his mother's sacrifices, and their difficult journey in navigating the genetic implications of Huntington's. He reveals how his daughter’s birth prompted him to ultimately decide to take a genetic test to learn if he carried the same faulty gene.
In a poignant moment, he recounts receiving the test results—education that he was gene negative, which felt like winning the lottery. The episode also shares groundbreaking news regarding a new treatment discovered in clinical trials that successfully slows the disease’s progress by 75%. This brings a sense of hope to Huntington's communities, suggesting potential for a new yaşam quality for patients and altering future family planning decisions for those at risk.
The conversation details the impact of Huntington's on patients and their loved ones, highlighting the disease’s cruel symptoms and its devastating progression. Josh reflects on his family’s experience, his mother's sacrifices, and their difficult journey in navigating the genetic implications of Huntington's. He reveals how his daughter’s birth prompted him to ultimately decide to take a genetic test to learn if he carried the same faulty gene.
In a poignant moment, he recounts receiving the test results—education that he was gene negative, which felt like winning the lottery. The episode also shares groundbreaking news regarding a new treatment discovered in clinical trials that successfully slows the disease’s progress by 75%. This brings a sense of hope to Huntington's communities, suggesting potential for a new yaşam quality for patients and altering future family planning decisions for those at risk.
Key Takeaways
- Huntington's disease is caused by a genetic mutation leading to severe neurodegeneration.
- For 17 years, Josh Halliday's father has battled the effects of Huntington's, profoundly affecting the family.
- A recent trial has shown promising results for a new treatment that slows Huntington's progression by 75%.
- Genetic testing for Huntington's can be emotionally challenging and decisions surrounding testing are deeply personal.
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