In late January of 2016, Julie's family received the worst news that Julie's mom had been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD). Only one month prior Susie was riding her bike miles and miles a day, celebrating Christmas at our house, and enjoying life as she always had. On January 1st she began experience blurred and distorted vision and called Julie frightened that something was seriously wrong because she could not recognize the people she knew so well at an AA meeting. Julie rushed her to the hospital where she was misdiagnosed with multiple minor strokes and we were devastated but we thought it was okay because there was treatment for strokes...but her symptoms progressed. Tired of not having answers Julie took her down to UCLA ER and she was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation. Less than 24 hours later Julie was given the most devastating news of her life...her mom had Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease. CJD is a rare, rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease. It is described as a “one in a million disease” affecting only 200 people in the U.S. each year. There is no treatment or cure, and the disease is invariably fatal. Only 6 weeks after her diagnosis was given Susie passed on March 10, 2016 at the age of 59. "Sit long, talk much, laugh often"---those were the words that Susie lived by. She blessed this earth as an amazing mom, daughter, sister, friend, aunt, and co-worker. For Susie we are continuing to raise money to help further understand this horrific disease. This organization helped us have the resources to better care for my mom during her final days and weeks. They provided us with resources in the area and connected us with others that were or had been going through this same battle. The CJD Foundation also supports further research on a disease that so little is known.