Guiding Lights: My First HD Friend, Ashley Jennings

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 Well, it's May again (at least it JUST was), which means it is Huntington's Disease Awareness Month!

As I was thinking about what to write this month, I realized there is someone very important I forgot to tell you about. One of my very first HD friends.

When I was 18, I had just received the news that I was gene positive. At the time, I was supposed to go away to San Diego State University, but after getting my results, I decided to stay in Sacramento and attend Sac State instead. I wanted to stay close to my family and friends while I processed everything that was happening.

Not long after starting college, I met a girl named Ashley Jennings.

Ashley was my age, beautiful, had bright red hair, and her mom was symptomatic with Huntington's disease. Ashley was at risk herself, but later went through genetic testing and found out she did not have the gene.

We quickly became friends.

Ashley would come with me to HDSA events, walks, and activities. We spent a lot of time together. She was also a strong believer in God, and faith was something we had in common. It was comforting to have someone my age who understood the HD world and all the emotions that came with it.

Years later, when Fernando and I bought our first house, Ashley lived nearby. It was fun to still be close and stay connected.

Ashley eventually married her husband, Justin, and together they have a beautiful little boy named Gunner.

When I think back on those years, I always think of Ashley fondly. She was one of my very first HD sisters and someone I shared many wonderful memories with. Even though life takes us all in different directions, she is someone who has always stayed in my heart.

I admire Ashley for so many reasons. She is a strong woman of faith, and she has walked through difficult losses in her life, including losing her mom. I know firsthand how hard that can be. Through it all, she has remained strong, kind, and grounded in her faith.

God has brought so many incredible people into my life through the HD community, and Ashley was one of the very first. I am so thankful for the friendship we shared and the memories we made together.

Happy Huntington's Disease Awareness Month (a few days late!). As always, thank you for following along on this journey with me and allowing me to share the people who have made such a difference in my life. 💙


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