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Amongst other things, this is a love story.... the theme changes occasionally... this year it is fitness and learning to love yourself.

8 April 2015

Genes. #atozchallenge Care for the Carers

Two days after her 73rd birthday my Mum took her final breath. She had Alzheimers and Motor neurone disease (MND). For her final 3 months I was her main carer. A privilege I am grateful for and will cherish forever. This years #atozchallenge theme will focus on being a carer / care-giver.


Remember to care for the carers.  

Genes


Nobody really knows what causes Motor Neurone Disease or Alzheimers Disease.

Mum had both, and as far as I know no-one in her family has had either disease.


There are tests that can determine whether or not I have the gene mutation that is evident in some MND patients. I'm not interested in finding out. I won't be passing on any genes. There is no treatment for either, except living your best life till it takes over. Neither disease is reversible.  

Most MND patients live 3-5 years after initial diagnosis, Mum only lived 7 months after her diagnosis. In hindsight her symptoms started presenting themselves several years ago. Her GP said she was getting old.

I'll know what to get tested for if any of the symptoms present themselves

Would you want to know if you were susceptible to a disease that there was no cure or treatment for?


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8 comments :

  1. Hi Ida .. quite honestly I don't know ... we all tend to be long livers .. so I guess I won't need to know and as I have no kids .. I'll quietly forget it .. Interesting about the longevity of living for MND .. not easy .. cheers Hilary

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    1. Planning a family doesn't seem to stop people from having children when they know of being carriers of plenty of other diseases... It wouldn't surprise me if one day in the future we'll all know what we are going to die of on the day we are born... one things for sure we'll all face death eventually.

      Delete
  2. Nope, I wouldn't really want to know and as I also have no-one I would pass it on to, I don't have to worry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and if you already had children it wouldn't make much difference.

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  3. I don't know how I'd cross that line. With us, it was only one aunt who was diagnosed, and it wasn't Alzheimers that took her, so the gene might not be there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There might not even be a gene ... not enough is known about either disease yet. There is cancer and heart disease on Mum's side of the family, I still think living your best life is the best antidote.

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  4. I think I WOULD want to know if I had a disease or disorder presaging imminent death. As it is, at 73, I am already planning for my mortality, whenever that will be.

    Thanks for sharing this info. So sorry your mum succumbed so quickly and at such a young age.

    Samantha Mozart
    http://thescheherazadechronicles.org

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ida, that's a BIG question as to whether I would want to know or whether I would go and have tests to determine whether .. I don't think so re being tested. Yes, on 2nd thoughts I would want to know. To hear a medical diagnosis and go on from there. And I decide how best to proceed. I agree with Carol about preparing, now, for death ..

    Thank you for sharing this with us ..

    ReplyDelete

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