I am a 16 year old male. I live with my mother and father in Wellington. Just recently my mother started showing symptoms of Huntington’s Disease, in a very physical way. I mean, her foot always twitches. On one particular day when we were both edgy, suddenly my mother became extremely frustrated and angry. A microwave dish was broken, giving me a few cuts. Some neighbours heard this as it was an extremely heated fight and called the police.

I have attended all the five camps for young people involved with Huntington’s Disease, and have heard the experiences of others, however when it finally happens to you, it is a very scary thing.

The campers were great and very strong to share their moments, but I really believe you have to WANT to listen, rather than just hear. I was in a place where that was them, this was me, and my mother wasn’t going to get it until she’s 80. Then when that incident happened ........

WOW.......What a wake up call! I continually asked why she would do something like that to her own son, but she didn’t give me an answer that seemed accept-able. I guess I really felt unfulfilled with the answer. Also everyone said at the camp "when it happens - walk away!" Easy enough - NOT! At the camp we were all like "Yes I’ll walk away", but we forget our emotions that we feel. To all of a sudden get hit or anything else, and then to stay there and argue makes it worse - believe me! I did not want this incident to be Huntington’s Disease.

Now we are "happy families" again, and we have our moments - but we move on and get over it. I feel strongly that mum and I are now learning together - which makes it so much easier, and, it may sound hard to believe, but I appreciate that event hap-pening now, as it was the wake-up call I needed, as you can only put up a wall for so long. I love my mother and I KNOW she loves me too.