I grew up next door to my maternal grandparents "Nonni and Pa". They were part of my everyday life. until I was 6 and we moved. After that they would sometimes spend weekends at our house. One morning Pa woke up disoriented and unsteady on his feet, he had been fine the day before. He was admitted to the hospital but nobody could figure out what was wrong and his symptoms worsened, his memory was gone, he needed a feeding tube to eat and he lost muscle control so his arms and legs would flare and he had to be restrained. He eventually slipped into a coma and passed away within 4 months. The official CJD, I was 9 and CJD meant nothing, I only knew that Pa was gone and Nonni was heartbroken. 

Years later I was denied donating blood because a blood relative died of CJD. It was at that time I learned CJD is a rare neurodegenerative disease with no treatment or cure, it can be genetic or sporadic. I chose to believe that Pa had the sporadic type because it was too worrisome and painful to think it was genetic.

Forty-one years later, my Uncle Sibby, Pa's son, was admitted to the hospital with the same symptoms, he too was fine the day before, we lost him 5 weeks later. Ten months later, my cousin Frank, Pa's grandson from his other son, entered the hospital with similar symptoms, we lost him 4 weeks later. The reality is, CJD is genetic in our family but for so many others it is sporadic, there is no explanation as to how or why someone gets CJD. It is a horrific that comes on suddenly and has no treatment or cure, you only make your loved one comfortable & pray they do not suffer too long. 

But you can help. Your donation no matter how small helps fund grants for those trying to develop a cure. And finding a cure is very important not only to my family but to everyone. Thank you.