The Citizen, 2000-05-10, Page 32PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2000.
Huntington, a ticking time bomb for afflicted
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
It can be like a ticking time bomb,
just waiting to inflict its damage. The
question is, would one want to know
if the bomb was there?
That is how it was for Christie
Kilgore of Goderich and her family,
when after many years of the
unknown, they were told their moth
er had been a long-sufferer of
Huntington disease.
The little known disease usually
strikes between the ages of 35 and 45
and 50 per cent of the children of
suffers will also be afflicted by the
ailment.
For Kilgore, the youngest of nine
children, she remembers her mother
living with Huntington for 30 years,
one of the longest known survivor.
Of those years, almost 25 were spent
with her mother unable to speak, to
communicate any information about
what the disease was doing to her.
Until 1993, the diagnosis of
Huntington was purely based on
symptoms and speculation as there
was no definitive test.
Even then, the family had a diffi
cult time believing it really was
Huntington. There was little or no
information available on the disease
and there was no history in the fami
ly which would account for it.
It was in 1996 when Kilgore’s sis
ter was finally diagnosed with the
same ailment. Though she had
shown the same symptoms as her
mother, her difficulties were attrib
uted to other things. When the physi
cian learned the family history test
ing was done.
When observing someone suffer
ing from Huntington, Kilgore says
the most common perception is that
the person is drunk. The gait
becomes very awkward. Speech' can
become slurred and there is a clum
siness.
Another form of Huntington caus
es a flailing, though smooth arm
motion so that the person looks like
they could be dancing.
With one diagnosis in the family,
Kilgore decided she also had to
know as she has children. “I needed
to know if I was a carrier so they
could be prepared.”
Unlike some diseases, Huntington
is not just carried. If the gene muta
tion is present, the person will expe
rience symptoms, the severity is the
only wild card.
When she decided to go through
the testing process, her ordeal was
recorded by a documentary crew
from Northern Lights and can be
acquired at local libraries. The name
of the video is Deadly Inheritance.
Fortunately, Kilgore was not a car
rier.
“Not knowing was the worst part,”
Q: Po you have a personal
investment plan?
A: For a balanced
portfolio, include:
1. Physical activity
2. Healthy eating
3. Your doctor’s advice
www.participacfion.com
she says. “If I had it, I don’t know
what I would have done. I wouldn’t
want to be in a state like my mother,
but when faced with reality....”
Since her testing, Kilgore has
become involved with the
Huntington Society as a regional
‘I needed to
know if I was a
carrier’
— Kilgore
representative.
She has also learned more about
the disease which has stricken her
family.
Related to Parkinson’s and
Alzheimer’s, Huntington disease
affects the motor functions. It has
been discovered that a protein of a
specific gene is affected. The chain
becomes overgrown, showing more
than 30 repetitions of the sequence
of information rather than the normal
21-28 repetitions. The number of
repetitions can indicate the severity
of the affliction. The brains cells are
eventually killed by the overgrowth
as the nucleus is squeezed.
Kilgore says the worst part of the
disease is that it is a very slow
process, normally taking 10 to 15
years before the sufferer succumbs
and they are cognitive throughout.
Death is often due to choking
because there is no control swallow
ing.
The disease is hereditary and those
with a concern should learn about
their family history, she says.
Kilgore say her mother had
tremendous care, which helped her
survive the 30 years. New drugs are
currently being tested which hold the
progression of the disease at its cur
Brussels Lions Club
29th Anniversary
ELIMINATION DRAW
Saturday, May 27, 2000
At B.M. & G. Community Centre
25 prizes totalling $6500.00. Every ticket to be drawn
Only 500 tickets at $45.00 each
The last ticket drawn being worth - $4,000.00
Entertainment - A tribute to Allan Jackson & the Backstreet Boys
DRAW COMMENCES AT 5:30 PM
Held under the authority of a
Special Occasion Permit
Lottery License #M01529
Proceeds for Community Betterment
A Night You Will Not Want To Miss!
rent state for a period of time.
Kilgore’s commitment to the soci
ety extends beyond assisting families
with questions about the disease. She
gives talks on the subject, organizes
fundraisers and seeks donations.
The second go-kart fundraiser race
will be held at Kincardine’s Family
Fun Land the first weekend in
September. It is two hours of fun, she
says.
A national fundraising campaign
offers an open ticket for a flight any
where in the world to the person who
raises the most monies.
The amaryllis campaign runs in
October.
Anyone wishing information on
Huntington disease or wanting to
participate in the fundraisers can
contact Christie Kilgore at 519-524-
5853.
TICKET ADMITS 2 PEOPLE & ANY
FAMILY MEMBER UNDER 12
Tickets are going fast.
For ticket availability
Call 887-6856 or 887-9488
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R.M.T., C.S.T.
Registered massage therapist
• Cranio-sacral therapist
By appointment
159 Dinsley St. Blyth
k 519-523-9400 /364-3790
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523-4356
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Estimates & Prints
R.R. #3 Blyth 523-9354 J
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91 Main St., South, Seaforth
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