Undiagnosed to Death: How My Mother's Writing Captured Our Family's Hidden Battle with Huntington's Disease...

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Audrey Roberts Darlene Gaynor

Undiagnosed to Death

How My Mother's Writing Captured Our Family's Hidden Battle with Huntington's Disease

Audrey Roberts, Darlene Gaynor

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English

Transcendent Publishing
02 October 2025

Memoirs; Hereditary diseases & disorders; Coping with illness

Someone you love is struggling with what seems like personal failures. But what if they are actually fighting the most challenging battle of their life?

For years, Audrey Roberts watched her mother, Darlene, struggle with unexplained symptoms, mood swings, job insecurity, and rapidly declining health. The spirited woman within began to disappear. Despite years of trying to get answers from doctors, she went undiagnosed for most of her life with a debilitating illness: Huntington's disease (HD).

This book explores the devastating impact of HD on family relationships, as Roberts grappled with years of resentment and misunderstanding which gave way to guilt and regret. The diagnosis reframed everything for Roberts, revealing that behaviors she had attributed to irresponsibility and apathy were actually symptoms of a progressive genetic disease.

The shining beacon in all of the darkness: Darlene was a writer. She wrote poems, songs, and romance novels. She poured her heart and soul, her pain and joy, into words on the page. Roberts intertwines intimate family stories with her mother's writings, piecing together a portrait of a woman who channeled her pain into creativity while battling an invisible illness. With the help of her daughter, Darlene's words remain a legacy of her lifelong battle with HD.

Undiagnosed to Death examines the importance of early diagnosis and advocacy in healthcare, generational trauma, and the power of writing as a coping mechanism. This memoir, full of family history, is a testament to resilience, the healing power of creativity, and the enduring strength found in love despite overwhelming challenges.

By: Audrey Roberts
With: Darlene Gaynor
Imprint: Transcendent Publishing
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 7mm
Weight: 159g
ISBN: 9798999203021
Pages: 132
Publication Date: 02 October 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Audrey Roberts is, first and foremost, a daughter shaped by memory, love, and loss. Her professional work sits at the intersection of innovation, equity, and systems-level change. She is a Girl Scout troop leader, a nonprofit board member, and a community volunteer. She lives in Nashville, TN, with her husband, Matt, and their three children. Her proudest titles are daughter, wife, and mom.