Coach Norv Turner signs autograph after practice.

San Diego Chargers rehearsed infront of approximately 9,500 fans on Aug. 7 at Qualcomm Stadium in preparation for the big games infront of possbily 60,000 fans.

Before and after the nearly two hours practice, players signed autographs.

Darren Sproles and Antonio Gates led the team down the field with Gates finishing with a 64-yard two-minute drive. The offense line and Philip Rivers were cheered on, but Ryan Mathews was the favorite of the autograph seeking fans.

“It is a rehearsal,” Coach Norv Turner said.

For more information on the Chargers, log on to www.chargers.com.

Additional photos go to http://theviews.org/?page_id=204

CARLSBAD- David and Jean Crawford deserve much praise for sharing over 60 years of a blessed marriage. Just recently the Crawford’s celebrated their 60th anniversary this year on February 4. A celebration with their two beloved daughters, Rhonda and Sandra, was all that the Crawford’s could ask for.

As residents of Rancho Carlsbad community, the Crawford’s have lived in California ever since David was offered a business opportunity in 1959. Jean and David developed a solid relationship where they both grew up as young adults in Indiana. At a young age Jean and David starting dating as freshmen in high school, although they first met each other in the 8^th grade. During this time, grade school in Indiana went from the 7^th – 12^th grades. Ever since April 2, 1942, the day the couple officially started dating, they both have enjoyed sharing a cherished life together.

It’s funny how a first date will always be remembered no matter what happens before, during or after. For Jean she remembers their first date, “He took me to the local theater and I believe the movie playing was called ‘They Died with Their Boots On.’”  Jean’s smile seemed to give away that she had a lovely time with him, once she started retelling the story of their first date.

The movie at the time was a 1941 western film starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland.  After sitting through a movie, David then treated Jean to ice cream from the dairy.

In the beginning of their relationship, Jean was attracted to David by his mature presence. David recognized Jean’s unmistakable beauty and replied, “I was attracted to her good looks,” he admits.  Overtime the couple continued to grow, they both knew they could rely on one another. As time passed, their relationship only grew stronger and by the time they decided to tie the knot, both of them were 23 years old.

Only four years later at the age of 27, did the Crawford’s add an additional family member, their first daughter, Rhonda. Rhonda currently lives in Maryland and Sandra the youngest daughter, lives in Texas with two of the Crawford’s grandchildren.

It is no secret how the Crawford’s managed to stay together for so long. So what’s the secret? How has this marriage lasted so long? The Crawford’s thought about it for a moment then they both replied, “Trust.”   Maintaining trust and knowing that they can rely on one another plays a crucial role in their marriage. Having trust is what the Crawford’s believe keeps a marriage stable, they would advise this to any young couple struggling with being newlyweds. Jean and David are fortunate to be living a retired and peaceful lifestyle together. Currently, Jean often enjoys playing a card game called Bridge, while David enjoys spending his free time playing golf.

Their retirement community in Carlsbad offers a variety of activities to be involved in or to participate in. Whether for leisure or entertainment the Crawford’s do not have to travel far from their mobile home to enjoy their choice of a leisurely activity. Our hats go off to the Crawford’s for persevering throughout the years of their marriage; may they continue to create timeless memories together.

60th anniversary

By Buddy Knight

“We don’t need to install filters, we trust our kids.”

“Our kids wouldn’t be interested in that, and know that it is wrong, so we trust them with their computers in their rooms.”

Those are two common sentiments that I encounter as I do seminars on Internet safety around the country. Sometimes it is voiced by a seminar attendee. Sometimes by the person on the plane next to me.

I understand their feelings, but I think that they are “trusting” their kids in the wrong way.

You see, there are two ways that we have to trust our kids, and parenting is a delicate balance between these two, especially in the teenage years:

1. We need to trust our kids to make more and more mature decisions as they grow up, and

2. We need to trust our kids to be…KIDS!

The problem is, many parents use TRUST #1 when dealing with the Internet and technology. This is based upon a parent’s understandable desire to think the best of their kids (and that they, the parents, have done a good job raising them) as well as a degree of intimidation some parents have with all this new technology that kids seem to understand before it’s available!

This type of trust is great as kids get older. It helps them learn how to make the decisions that they will need to make to be successful adults. But, I feel that TRUST #1 is the WRONG WAY TO TRUST KIDS when dealing with the Internet and temptation.

And there is a whole LOT of temptation on the Internet!

In giving kids free reign on the Internet, either through lack of filters & monitors or by letting them have “privacy” when online, we are doing them a grave disservice.

You may disagree and feel that your kids can be trusted on the Internet, all by themselves. Well, that’s OK, but I would like for you to consider the following scenario:

Go down to Wal-Mart and buy your kid a new flat-panel TV.

Stop by your cable/satellite TV provider and get a control box with EVERYTHING turned on: HBO, SHOWTIME, PLAYBOY, THE EROTIC NETWORK..ALL available channels

Now, go install the TV and control box in your child’s room, and

Tell them that you TRUST THEM to only watch NICKELODEON and TV LAND!!!

You can do that because you know that:

1. They will NEVER be tempted to view “adult” material, even though it is listed on the Channel Guide!

2. They will NEVER accidentally be exposed to inappropriate material just by channel surfing.

3. They will NEVER succumb to the urgings of their peers to view ‘those channels”.

See, you CAN trust them right???

Probably not. Shoot, I don’t trust ME with that scenario!

So, ask yourself this:

“If I wouldn’t trust my kids with unrestricted access to 200+ channels on TV, why would I allow them unrestricted access to millions of web sites and other Internet technologies?”

Maybe that puts it in perspective. I hope so.

BIO: Buddy Knight is the Director of Knights’ Quest Ministries and has spoken across the nation on the topic of Internet Safety. He is also the author of SEX, KIDS, & THE INTERNET: A Guide For The Parents of 21st Century Kids. He can be reached via his web site or his blog: www.knightsquest.org or blog.knightsquest.org

Jim Kerns keeps these photos of his time in a prisoner of war camp in the Philippines during World War II.

By Melissa Darcey

World War II was one of the most devastating global events, involving most of the world’s nations. The more the war progressed, the more intricate the web of countries involved became. This year is the 70th anniversary of Germany’s invasion of Poland, and the start of the war.
Between 1939 and 1945, tens of millions of people would die, millions would be wounded, and hundreds of thousands would become prisoners of war (POWs). After the war, many soldiers endured Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), nightmares and devastating memories. Many will never forget what it means kill someone and to use weapons of mass destruction. Between 1939 and 1945, tens of millions of people would die, millions would be wounded, and hundreds of thousands would become prisoners of war (POWs). After the war, many soldiers endured Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), nightmares and devastating memories. Many will never forget what it means kill someone and to use weapons of mass destruction.

One then can only imagine what a POW endures, both during and after their time as a captive. Just between 1942 and1945 the number of POWs that were transported and captured by the Japanese alone exceeded 125,000 on a total of 134 ships representing 156 voyages.

One of thoe survivors is Jim Kerns, a 94-year-old San Marcos resident who remembers the ever-impending fear of death and the loss of feeling like a human being.

As the WWII veteran and POW survivor explains, being a prisoner of war is to know hunger, experience cold, fear and anger and to “suffer the agony of rehabilitation in a completely changed world from the one you left over four years ago.”

Looking back almost 70 years ago, Kerns recounts his time overseas when, as a sergeant in the Marine Corps, he was captured by the Japanese. He spent almost four years as a POW on the island of Corregidor.

Kerns smiles as he describes himself as a farm boy from Montana, born in 1914 on the Flathead Indian Reservation. He spent his first 25 years in what is known as The Treasure State.  Kerns was in his late teens when the Depression hit. “I was just trying to keep my tummy full with food. I went to college from 1931 to 1933, in the heart of the Depression, at the University of Montana. The total fees, for tuition and all expenses, was $550 for a school year.”

Kerns eventually moved to California, working for the Veterans Commission in Los Angeles. In February 1941, a letter would change his life. “I received a notice from Uncle Sam, saying to report for duty with the Marine Corps in San Diego. It was a complete surprise because the war was in Europe, not the United States.”  Within two months, Kerns found himself on a boat to China. He was in the 4th Regiment, to be stationed in Shanghai, China. He was one of two reserves in the 4th Regiment, unusual because the rest of the men had been trained. “It was embarrassing. I had never even gone to boot camp.”

Kerns’ outlook on going off to war was also different within his regiment. “Most of them were kids, 18 or 19 years old. They weren’t even thinking about what they were doing. They were just happy to get out of boot camp. They were gung ho to get out and do something. They thought they were going to the Pacific, the peaceful area, not Europe. But some of us who were older knew trouble was brewing and that things would get worse.”

Kerns first felt thankful to be in Shanghai. “It was the best duty a Marine could ask for…until November 1941 when our regiment was evacuated to the Philippines, which at the time was under U.S. control.” That December, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, which Kerns declares “changed the world forever.” The United States’ involvement began.

Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Kerns and other men “found out suddenly how poorly equipped and prepared we were for the war, psychologically and physically.” And they discovered that the Philippines was not as desirable a location as they thought it would be. “Here we’d thought it’d be a beautiful situation because there were so many American troops there, but it turned out they weren’t ready for combat. The Japanese were better equipped for fighting. The American troops found themselves overwhelmed.”

Things only worsened for the regiment when it was on the Bataan Peninsula. The men had to burn all their personal belongings so the Japanese wouldn’t get ahold of it. They were left with nothing but the basics. “It was the first big shock,” Kerns explains.

On Dec. 26, 1941, Kerns and the other men moved from the Bataan Peninsula to Corregidor, an island in Manila Bay. “There was an army fort that had been there since World War I days, with heavy artillery, 16-inch mortars, and 12-inch rifles. We were told to take the barracks the army had left.” The men remained there, waiting for news, but instead heard only the jarring sounds of sirens.

“One afternoon, we heard sirens go off, and for an hour and a half, we were in involved in bombings. I was in a room with about 30 men or so, and I remember at one point a dud fell in the room next to us. If that bomb had gone off we would have been killed,” Kerns said.

He and the other men then were assigned to beach defense. For the next five months, until May 6, 1942, the men dealt with bombs and shelling almost every day. “We lived like gophers, digging holes, peeking out and then ducking down. A lot of men died,” he said.

On May 6, 1942, the Japanese made their first attempt to land on Corregidor. “On our side of the island we could only hear shelling. We didn’t realize the Japanese were landing. The next morning, we were told to pile all of our guns and surrender and put a white flag up. The war for us had ended.”

Meanwhile, what became known as the Bataan Death March began. Those on the Bataan Peninsula surrendered on April 9, and 75,000 Americans and Filipinos marched the 60 miles from the peninsula to prison camps. Many didn’t survive.“The Japanese took everyone as prisoners; the ones who didn’t get away marched in the death march.”

Once captured, the Japanese went through a process of stripping the men of everything they had left. “They left us with our mess kits and the clothing we had on, and that was it.”

Kerns still remembers the emotions of fear and helplessness he felt when captured. “It’s hard to describe the feeling. You’re so helpless. You actually lose the feeling of being a human being.”

After their belongings were seized, the men were put into prison camps. Kerns’ first camp was Bilibid Prison, a state prison the Japanese had turned into a prison camp. There were no sanitary systems and hardly any food.

“The only salvation was the Japanese taking hundreds of us out on work parties to Corregidor. The men were allowed to bring back food we could find,” he said. Since only so many men at a time could go out on a work party, the buddy system was vital, Kerns said. “I would work and another would stay, and we’d switch off. It made it possible for prisoners to survive for the three and a half years we were there for.”

In order to be one of the 1,500 taken out on a work party, the men had to wake up early enough to get in line. “Your whole life is based on survival,” Kerns said about that time. It was his lifestyle for months, until Kerns was taken to a new prison camp on the docks, Camp #13 – Port Area Detail – where he would be for the next two years.

In August 1944, the camp was to be disbanded, with most of the prisoners being shipped to Japan, including Kerns. “When we got to Japan, we had to march through a city, and we smelled so much people moved away from us.”

Kerns worked in a mine, 12 hours a day, for over a year. The war would end on Aug. 15, 1945, but Kerns would not be released until Sept. 6. “They didn’t find our prison camp for weeks. I remember when we saw an American plane fly by for the first time in years. All these parachutes with food barrels were coming down, and the men ran for them right away.”

He remembers how incredible it felt to eat large amounts of food again. “We ate a lot. Our stomachs were so small, it was hard to eat a lot, but we wanted to keep eating. I remember eating bread and jam for the first time again, which was so wonderful.” Not only was the food wonderful, but so were the men on the boats they sailed home on. “The men were so nice to us, and it was incredible arriving home again.”

After nearly four years in the depths of terror, agony and uncertainty, Kerns had made it home. He would go on to receive several medals and recognitions for his time spent in the prison camps.

Even thought it is more than 60 years later, Kerns still recalls the sharp pangs of hunger, the feeling of helplessness when stripped of his precious belongings and the deepest levels of fear one may ever experience.

But he also recalls the salvation of finally making it home, back into the arms of his mother and to begin life in America anew.

Bob Aldrich, 87, was ready when he got the opportunity to fly an AT-6 World War II warbird once again. In 1943-1945, Bob, now a Carlsbad resident, used an AT-6 to provide advanced flight training to many young pilots.

By William Culbreth

On a Friday morning, Bob Aldrich, an 87-year-old resident of Rancho Carlsbad in Carlsbad, awoke early. He had been restless all night. Three days before, he had been released from Scripps Hospital and he was still feeling the results of his brief bout with pneumonia. But that was not the cause of his early rising. It was the anticipation of the day ahead.

Months before, he had seen an ad by American Warbirds for flights in an AT-6,

the aircraft he flew so many months in 1943 through 1945. He had made all the arrangements, mailed in the deposit, signed the liability releases and scheduled the time and place, paving the way to this beautiful clear day in early April, 2008.  Late morning found him on the tarmac at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, approaching a shiny, polished aircraft with dragon’s breath flames emerging from the cowling.  It had the familiar shape and silhouette of the workhorse of WWII that had been clad in mottled grey paint and adorned with the bold American Star.

As Bob—wearing a bright blue windbreaker and a sky blue ball cap that contrasted with the brown leather flight jacket and the crumpled flight hat of earlier days—approached the aircraft, his mind went through the checklist that had been hidden away in the far reaches of his longterm memory. Tires, landing gear, ailerons, rudder, elevators, pitot tube—they all were in order.

Climbing aboard was not the jaunty maneuver he remembered. For the three years when this machine was his office, his work station, his reason for being, he sat in that rear seat; his student sat in the front seat. For three years, every month, he would get five new students. The students had completed their basic ground training and basic flight training and were at Craig Field in Selma, Ala., for advanced flight training.

For one hour every day, they had to learn and to demonstrate that they had learned the skills that were needed to be a US Army Air Corps pilot. Yes, they had more classroom and ground schooling the rest of the day, but it was here in Bob’s front seat where they earned their wings or failed to earn their wings. It was his decision to pin on the wings that would transform the cadet to pilot. After earning their wings from Bob, they would go on to train in fighters, bombers, recon or cargo planes, tankers or whatever assignment the Army Air Corps needed.

On this day in 2008, pushing back the canopy from the front seat, Bob accepted assistance to get his legs over the threshold and into the seat. A female with a long pony tail hanging from the rear of the baseball cap reached over his shoulder to secure the parachute and pulled the various straps taut.

She placed the bulky headphone with built-in microphone over his cap, and he adjusted his aviator glasses for comfort. She adjusted the microphone tight against his lips. The pilot in the rear seat asked if he was ready to go. Bob signaled a big thumbs-up and a resounding “Let’s go!”

The engine began with a labored groan, followed by a forceful roar. Instinctively Bob’s feet reached for the brakes to hold the plane stationary while the pilot went through the preflight checklist. Quickly, the plane pulled onto the taxi way and began the trip to the end of the runway. The AT-6 is a tail-dragger, and the pilots can’t see straight ahead when taxiing, so the route is a series of “S” turns, with the pilot looking first out of one side and then out of the other.

At the end of the taxi strip, the plane turned onto the end of the runway, facing into the wind. Brakes were applied, the engine was revved to full throttle, all systems were “Go.” The aircraft began its acceleration, air rushed past the canopy, the torque of the 550 hp Pratt-Whitney nine-cylinder engine pulled the plane to one side, and rudder was applied to keep the plane straight.

Bob’s hands were on the yoke, where he felt the pilot pushing it forward to engage the elevators to lift the tail off the ground. Reaching air speed, the yoke was pulled back, magically lifting the entire plane into the air, beginning its rapid ascent. A voice from the back seat instructed Bob to reach down beside his right calf and pull the lever to raise the landing gear. It is a mechanical lever with gears, cables and pulleys that manually raise and lower the landing gear.

Reaching cruising altitude, the two men began executing all the basic maneuvers: straight and level, climbing, descending lazy turns, tight turns, figure eights. Bob reflected on the 250 students who had earned their wings under his tutelage.

Throughout this day’s flight, Bob was bombarded with questions from the pilot, who recognized that Bob had many more flight hours in this plane than he would ever have. He wanted to learn all he could from the master.

The pilot asked Bob if he would like to try some more exciting moves. Bob was game for it all. The pilot said he would take it up to 8,200 feet and try something. Bob could feel the reduction in air speed as the plane went into a steep climb from 5,000 feet to 8,200 feet.

Leveling out at 8,200 feet and going into straight and level flight, the pilot told Bob to prepare for a snap roll. This roll was executed by snapping the ailerons to an extreme position, causing the plane to rapidly roll over on its side, then upside down, then on to the other side and then back to straight and level. Bob had executed this move hundreds of times, and every time there was a huge rush of adrenaline. This time was no exception. Despite his 87 years, Bob felt the thrill and exhilaration, just as he had in his youth.

The slow descent to Gillespie Field was anti-climactic, but was a time of reflection on his role and the purpose of his time in the service of his country so long ago. He also reflected on the first-hand hands–on knowledge and experience of the transition from propeller-driven to jet-propelled aircraft.

His firm conviction was that he had served his country and his fellow man well. Not only that but he got to play with a really big toy at the age of 87. Go, Bob.

Arthur Hemingway

By Tom Shanahan
The Views Sports Editor

This is one of those sad, what-might-have-been stories. In August, 1978, USC welcomed a freshman football class that featured Arthur Hemingway, a promising fullback from Oceanside High.

But Hemingway, who died recently at the age of 49, saw his career ended before it ever began. He was severely disabled when he was struck by a car while standing on a sidewalk near the Los Angeles campus the first week of practice. He was hit by a 17-year-old driver fleeing police.

But to say Hemingway was a promising fullback doesn’t begin to tell the story of his potential.

He was part of a 1978 USC recruiting class that included Marcus Allen, the Lincoln High alum who went on to win the Heisman Trophy, NFL MVP Award and Super Bowl MVP Award.

Other future NFL greats in the class were Chip Banks, Riki Gray Ellison and Roy Foster. Yet 30-plus years later, then-USC coach John Robinson still says this about Hemingway:

“He was one of the brightest prospects we recruited,” Robinson said. “He was a great-looking kid and a real leader at his school. He had a devastating smile.” Robinson said the Trojans envisioned Hemingway, a Samoan, succeeding Mosi Tatupu, who was a Samoan fullback at USC before he graduated.

This was a time when Samoans from Hawaii and California were making an impact on college football in larger numbers and clearing the way for future Samoan stars. Tatupu went on to play 14 NFL seasons. “Arthur’s potential was unlimited,” Robinson said. “I thought he was going to have a great career for us. I was so impressed by the guy.”

The loss of Hemingway left the Trojans with a fullback the next year, and Robinson filled the hole by switching Marcus Allen, who was recruited as a safety, to fullback. Allen spent his sophomore year clearing the way for 1979 Heisman Trophy winner Charles White, and has said that experience as a blocker helped him develop as an all-around football player.

When White graduated, Allen moved to tailback the next two seasons, and won the Heisman as a senior in 1981.

Robinson said had fate not intervened, Hemingway could have been the fullback for two Heisman Trophy winners—White and Allen—before starting his own NFL career.

“Absolutely, there’s no question,” Robinson said. “Arthur was a little taller than Mosi, and he was very athletic. He could have played some tailback for us, too. He had the ability to be a blocker, runner and receiver.”

Hemingway would ultimately undergo 20 surgeries, including brain surgery twice. He needed a wheelchair or motorized cart to get around, but he returned to USC at the age of 30. The school paid for his education and he earned a bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in education.

He remained a dedicated USC fan that attended many games. He also stayed involved with North County high school football, working with the football coaching staffs at Oceanside and Rancho Buena Vista.

“It was really a shame,” Robinson said. “I think he had only been with us three days when he got hit. He came in with a talented group, and he was right there with them.”

Last issue, I wrote about running in the Carlsbad Marathon as part of the Running to Cure Huntington’s Disease team. It was my first attempt to finish a full marathon, and Itrained for the run for months. People have asked me how I prepared for it? It is as much mental as it is physical. Runners were required to finish the run in six hours.

The week of the marathon, I read some motivational stories from books such as Chicken Soup for the Soul and specifically picked out stories from the Live Your Dream and Overcoming Obstacles sections of the book.

One particular story, “Run, Patti, Run” stood out. It is about Patti Wilson who was an epileptic. This did not stop her from achieving her goal of running from 3,000 miles, from Orange County to the White House. She wanted people to know that epileptics are normal human beings with normal lives.

The question is, if Patti Wilson could accomplish this, with epilepsy, what can you do to outperform yourself in a state of total wellness? My answer was to run at least 26.2 miles!  A couple of days before the marathon, I came across a quote made by cyclist champion Lance Armstrong, after he finished  his first New York City marathon in 2006.

He said running a marathon is, “the hardest physical thing I have ever done”—even more grueling than his worst days on the Tour de France. That made me a little nervous.

I thought about other ways to get inspired. I decided to dedicate every five miles of the run to a certain person or group of people who have touched my life and who have also inspired me. I imagined all my friends and loved ones waiting right there on the finish one, cheering me on. I thought of the Huntington’s Disease victims and their families, of my friend Bill Johnston and his wife, Mona, who has HD. She used to run marathons, but she is now in assisted-living facility, and Bill visits her daily when he is not away with San Diego Chargers where he works as public relations director.

With all of the above and armed with will and determination, I finished the run in 5:31.25, better than I imagined I ever would.

I want to thank all those who helped me raise money for HD research, cure and care. Thank you  to all those who cheered me on.

As part of my efforts and to bring more HD awareness (I wore my Running To Cure Huntington’s Disease shirt), I also ran the Bidwell Classic Half Marathon in Chico (near Sacramento) on March 7, 40 days after running the full marathon. I finished the run in record time, 2:33.31, but with a small injury: a slightly swollen ankle. I am just glad that my next half marathon will probably not until later in the fall.

The Huntington’s Disease Society of America—San Diego Chapter has several fundraisers throughout the year, and our Shoot to Cure HD (featuring San Diego Charger players) is one of the most exciting events, scheduled on June 5. Please log on to  www.hdsasandiego.org for more information about HD and Shoot to Cure HD.

My daughter, Amelia, who lives in Seattle recently met Sue Nebeker, a woman from a non-profit organization called American Hero Quilts. Sue started with 100 quilts, two hands and a tragic tale.

Amelia wrote, “She does an amazing service for injured soldiers, deceased soldiers’ families and the familys of service persons who die ‘dishonorably’ because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder all over the nation. They are in serious need of donations, and I thought you have the perfect network around you to bring some attention to this beautiful cause.” The website is  www.americanheroquilts.com and click on “Our Story,” to find out more about how this organization was started and its mission to help the wounded soldiers and their families.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, so I want to thank all you volunteers who continue to give your time to help out organizations or people in need. For instance, there is a group of about 50 resident volunteers (including about 20 Recreation Committee members) in the active senior community of  Rancho Carlsbad who work very hard in putting together events for their neighbors. Dave and Judy Jenks and Barbara Bevis are the co-chairs of the Recreation Committee. Dave is also the volunteer chef for Rancho Carlsbad, and prepares and cooks spaghetti dinners, and breakfasts, for 100 or more residents. Volunteers are unsung heroes. Please take time to thank a volunteer, not just in April, but every time you meet one. The survival of our communities relies on these volunteers, especially with our nation’s current economic struggles. Volunteers are more valuable now than ever.

Read The Views online at www.theviews.org. Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Passover, Easter and Spring!

Misty Oto was one of the honorees at the Party with the Purpose event, honoring heroes of the recent Carlsbad Marathon. Oto ran the half marathon as part of the Running to Cure Huntington’s Disease team. Members of the team included, from left, Audrey Watson, Adrienne Rebollo, Oto and Sally Cravens. For more information about HD, visit www.hdsasandiego.org.

By Misty Oto

I remember the day my stepfather and mother made the decision to separate after 17 years of marriage. It was after her social worker at the local Social Security Admini-stration (SSA) office informed her they would have to wait two years to be eligible for health benefits. However, if they separated, she would qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

SSI is a federal program designed to help the disabled with little to no income. After working and for more than 20 years, she found herself disabled by Huntington’s Disease in the prime of her life. Hunt-ington’s Disease is an inherited neurological degenerative brain disorder that takes away your ability to walk, talk and reason.

It strikes most individuals between the ages of 30 to 50 years of age—ages that are far from 62, which is the age required to be eligible for Social Secur-ity. Last Jan. 26, Congress-man Bob Filner introduced H.R. 678, a vital piece of legislation for those afflicted with HD. This bill, if adopted, will require the Social Security commis-siner to revise the medical criteria for evaluating disability in a person diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease and to waive the 24-month waiting period for Medicare eligibility for individuals disabled by Huntington’s Disease. The current neurological listings for disability have not been comprehensively revised in more than 20 years. Since Hunting-ton’s Disease is considered a rare disease, SSA caseworkers and physicians are generally unfamiliar with the complexity of symptoms.

While the SSA has been working to reduce the current backlog of disability requests that affects people with HD, the number of delays and appeals will continue to rise until all SSA physicians and caseworkers are given accurate medical information on which to base their eligibility decisions.

This combination of outdated listings and a lack of general understanding about HD causes delays and errant denials during the determination process.

It is an inevitable fact that HD eventually renders every person affected by the disease unemployable. Often, by the time a disability application is “under review,” many applicants have already lost their jobs—and their employer-provided health insurance benefits for themselves and often their families. This lack of insurance often results in insufficient treatment during the early stages of the disease and places enormous stress on the family caregiver and children. If access to Social Security disability benefits and Medicare is to improve for individuals with HD, strong congressional support and action is needed to support H.R. 678. San Diego County is home to many Hunting-ton’s Disease patients and families. So, it is no surprise that San Diego is where H.R. 678 was introduced. Along with Con-gressman Bob Filner, Congressman Brian Bi-lbray and Congresswoman Susan Davis have agreed to co-sponsor H.R. 678. The introduction of H.R. 678 is the first step in the legislative process. It will be deliberated, investigated and possibly re-vised by the House Committee on Ways and Means before it will go to general debate and, without congressional support, H.R. 678 may never make it out of the committee—the fate of many pieces of legislation.

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