Reality Check

I have an unknown Mitochondrial disease. This means that the energy production in all of the cells in my body is not proper. It can cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms and limitations, including death. The reason it is unknown is because my DNA came back abnormal for mitochondrial disease but not in any pattern they have seen before. Yes, I have to be an original. Along with those DNA changes are associated changes for a high prevalence of Bipolar Disorder and Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. I already have Bipolar Disorder. Being here has faced me with the very real possibility of what my life would look like with Alzheimer's disease and it is not comforting. I do not want to lose all of my dignity, my value, my worth, my humanity, my individuality by living in a place like this. It is scary enough to think about slowly losing memory and body function. In Early Onset Alzheimer's the disease usually lass longer because the body is not yet changed by age. I have a profound appreciation for what these people's lives are like and would love to find a way to make them better. I want change for if this happens to me, but also for those to whom it is already happening.