When her mother was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, 29-year-old writer Melissa Bilchik had to decide whether she too should be tested; there was a 50/50 chance she was carrying the fatal gene.  In today’s show, Melissa talks about the events leading up to her mother’s diagnosis of HD—which she says is like having Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s simultaneously—caring for her mom, her views on getting tested and approach to having kids.  She also talks about how millennial caregivers differ from baby boomer carers, her experience of support groups and why she’s not a Pinterest mom.  All this and more on today’s moving show.

 

Melissa’s Writings: The Caregiver Space

More about Huntington’s Disease: What Is HD?

Music: “Arashi” by Kakurenbo | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive