I am Yvonne Sweeten, a proud senior who is mid-stage with HD (Huntington’s Disease). I live in Henderson, Nevada – outside of Las Vegas - with my husband Jeff Nelson, who’s a marvelous care navigator. He supports me fully and has even spoken to the FDA and the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center where I am an outpatient. I wake up happy every day because I have hope there will be a viable cure in my lifetime. I like to hike every day along the Pittman Wash and walk in my neighborhood called Celebrity. I care deeply about the environment and pick up trash a couple times a week. I’ve amassed 1.000 pounds of soda cans, cigarettes, plastic grocery bags, chewing gum, and plastic water bottles over the last twenty years! I’m a happy warrior and truly am honored to be featured in HD Reach winter campaign. I love to read and have been in the HD Reach book club since its inception. I’ve made wonderful friends and am extremely grateful for Erika’s and her wife Melissa’s leadership with the group. I love Book club because it challenges me. I really appreciate the intellectual discussions. One of my favorite books was the one about Bruce Willis, written by his 2nd wife. I could relate to the struggles Bruce and his wife were having. Furthermore, I’ve participated in the HD Reach crafting club since it was founded. Crafting Corner is amazing because there's an array of different projects the members are demonstrating. I even compiled a grocery list for Costco that everybody complimented me on. I've improved my handwriting immensely with rehabilitation at the clinic where I go for therapy and doctor's appointments. My other interests are HD advocacy. I’ve been in HD-COPE (Huntington’s Disease Coalition of Patient Engagement) since its beginning. Finally, I am a retired private school teacher. In my classroom, I used to have a handmade puppet theatre that my father Noel built when I was a child. My HD came from Noel’s side of the family. Incredibly, we learned HD was in our family fifty years ago when Noel got an HD diagnosis around the same time my grandfather William received a clinical diagnosis of HD. Noel and Uta (my mother) told my siblings and me the truth, and to live our lives. That is what I continue to do to this day. After my diagnosis, I make sure to be involved in supports, take care of myself, and live my life fully. Programs created by HD Reach help me do that.
