Evelyn Marie (Limoges) Kendall was a lot of things for different people. She was a daughter, sister, friend, domino partner, poker player, hard-worker, caregiver, and so much more. But to me she was "mom". She was the perfect happy hour partner, the hostess with the mostest, the most adventurous travel companion, the worst story teller, and the answer to ALL of my kitchen/house questions. She had a laugh that could really get you going, the corniest jokes, and a smile that could light up the whole room. 

I have decided to pour into this event as a way to honor, remember, and grieve her. CJD truly is a terrifying and heartbreaking disease. With 90% of it's victims obtaining it sporadically, it takes away a persons ability to move, think, speak, and act in mere weeks. There is literally nothing that my mom did, didn't do, or could have done to prevent the onset of this disease. I pray daily that no one else has to experience the traumatic and horrifying experience of being a victim of CJD, or loved one of a victim. 

If you don't know my mothers story here are the details: Mom started to feel “off” in mid May 2019. She had her first MRI on June 4th, followed by 2 more MRI’s, as well as 5 additional doctors appointments all in June. She was hospitalized on July 3rd. We were told it was stress induced symptoms until we got a second opinion at a second hospital on July 10th. By July 16th she was no longer able to communicate, on the 18th she was clinically diagnosed with CJD, she was moved to hospice on July 25th, and the next day spinal fluid tests confirmed the doctors suspicions, CJD. On August 2, 2019 my sister and I held her hand as she left this world and met Jesus. She was 59. Previous to May 2019 she had little to no health issues. It was shocking. It was heartbreaking. It was the worst experience. Summer 2019 was quite honestly the summer from hell.

As a daughter I had to sit by helpless. Taking her from appointment to appointment. Holding her hand through MRI's. Filling out forms. Preparing her food. Buckling her seat belt. Then it turned to night after night in a hospital, spoon feedings, rounds of doctors, loads of tests, blood withdrawals, IV's, medication, visitors, tough decisions, and finally 8 horrific nights in hospice. The task of explaining something so unexplainable to people that had known her, loved her, grown with her was unbearable. A majority of my mothers symptoms were a breakdown of her physical body. Trouble with balance, which turned into trouble walking, which turned into trouble standing. Her brain just couldn't tell her body what to do. We are so fortunate to not have seen her experience dementia or violent tendencies, which so often is the first thing to happen in CJD victims. I am thankful I had my mothers mental capacity as long as I did. I just wish we had more answers sooner. To me that is what Strides for CJD is all about. It is about awareness, it is about funding, it is about doing SOMETHING that will hopefully put an end to this rare, cruel, and aggressive disease. 

Please consider joining our team and walk by my side as we remember my mother Evelyn. Prayerfully consider donating, sponsoring, or even just sharing this page. Thank you!