2023-09-27 10:26:15
Five years ago, journalist Nicole de Jong lost her father to the consequences of HCHWA-D, also known as Katwijk disease. This disease had a major impact on her childhood and now she has a fifty percent chance of developing the disease herself. In response to this, she has created a podcast called “Sick Inheritance” where she talks to carriers and risk carriers of hereditary diseases.
In her podcast, Nicole confronts her own history and delves into her family background. She discusses with her loved ones how the threat of a hereditary disease affects their lives. Ultimately, she makes a decision about whether she is willing to have her DNA analyzed to determine if she will develop the disease.
Nicole’s father suffered multiple brain hemorrhages as a result of Katwijk disease, which causes the accumulation of brain hemorrhages. After the first bleeding, her father was able to work a few hours a day, but his condition worsened after a bleed occurred on holiday in Italy. Nicole witnessed her father’s decline and had to take care of him, feeding him and helping him with everyday tasks.
Taking care of her father at such a young age was difficult for Nicole. She grew up with this reality, but when she visited friends’ houses, she realized that it was not normal. Despite the challenges, she took care of her father with love, but she never had the chance to know him before he became ill.
Nicole’s chance of developing Katwijk disease is 50 percent. She has struggled with the question of whether she wants to know if she will become ill or not. She feels a great responsibility and a need for security. She wants to investigate her risk now because she is afraid of passing the disease on and wants the answer for herself, no matter how terrifying it may be.
The podcast “Sick Inheritance” provides an opportunity to learn more about Katwijk disease and Nicole’s journey. It sheds light on the impact of hereditary diseases on individuals and their families. The podcast aims to raise awareness and start conversations about these often overlooked conditions.
To watch the entire conversation about Katwijk disease, please visit [link to podcast episode].]
#percent #chance #hereditary #condition