My name is Misha and I'm writing to share the story of my mother, Janet Straus. She's always been the heart of our family. Kind, devoted, protective, and loving. For most of her life she has cared for everyone around her, always putting others first. But recently, our world has turned upside down. Mom has been diagnosed with Prion Disease, specifically Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), and our lives will never be the same. 

CJD is a devastating, fast-acting, rare and fatal neurogenerative disorder caused by prions - misfolded proteins that attack the brain. We are doing everything we can to support Mom during this time. It's incredibly hard to watch someone you love deteriorate so quickly, but we’re determined to make her as comfortable as possible. We cherish every moment we have with her.

Many of you have reached out asking what you can do to help. It is Dad's request that all monetary donations go to helping cure this disease. The CJD Foundation has been a great source of information for us as we learn all about this disease and how we can best care for Mom. Thank you for your support and we hope that together we can make a difference.