Strides for CJD 2021

My Story

My mother first lost her balance in October of 2020. Up until her diagnose doctors told us there was nothing wrong with her brain and suspected her inner-ear even though test results weren't implying that. At Christmas time we started to notice her brain function and memory was impaired. After a few more weeks of waiting for tests and scans we flew up from FL to MN to the Mayo Clinic without an appointment. We managed to get into see a specialist who diagnosed her with CJD. The diagnoses was confirmed by a RT-Quic test. With no known cause, treatment, or cure they suggested we set up hospice. Given covid we decided it best to set it up at home. My sister and I took 3 months off of work to act as her caretakers. Over that time she became wheelchaired bound, then bed bound, lost her ability to speak and then move. We slept by her side every single night. She ended her fight on April 13, 2021. Before losing her ability to speak she said "We will always be together, but I am going to go to heaven and you have to keep living". She was the strongest women I have ever known.