Welcome back everyone!  Here we go again back on the hunt to raise funds for CJD for our 4th year.  Most of you  already know how my family and I got involved in this, but I'll give you the short version or maybe not so short version! 
Our mom JOYCE RIZZO was diagnosed with CJD back in 2015.  It was a diagnosis that devastated our family as I'm sure it has every other family facing CJD.  We watched mom deteriorate to the point she became unrecognizable as the spirited woman who knew no limitations!  She lost her vision, her mind became scattered, her muscles atrophied and movement became increasingly difficult and she became non-verbal (maybe the hardest part for us not being able to hear her voice).  She was given 6 months to a year and as a testament to the person my mom had always been...she lasted over 3 years!  HOWEVER, it was likely the WORST 3 years of her life.  We did our very best to find ways to make her existence as bearable as we could.  We took her everywhere with us up until about a month before she passed.  She went shopping, to restaurants, to family events...nothing was off limits.  We don't really know how much she was able to understand but by God we were going to do our best to not let her sit around and wait to die.  But, die she did with all of us at her side to help her "cross over".  She fought like a trooper to her last breath and that's given us the courage to continue to fight in her name.
This disease needs to find it's end and we need to band together as her family and friends and help others fight this disease.  No family should ever have to face CJD.  If it's as easy as walking and raising money for research then I ask everyone to put your sneakers on, reach into your pocket and let's find the cure/treatment for CJD!
If you're interested in walking with our team in Morris County NJ please join our team.  Go to https://secure.qgiv.com/event/strides-morris-county-2019/register/ and Click on the REGISTER button.  You will be guided to Register and join a team.  If you're not able to walk you can click on the Donate Now button on our team home page For the LOVE of JOYCE.
Thank you to everyone for your support while mom was going through this and for your continued support in our fundraising quest!