Our father died on January 11, 1999.  He was 61 years old. We had suspected
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease prior to his death. The cause of  death on his death
certificate was Prion-Protein Disease.


We had an autopsy done. We received a call from the doctor on March 2, 1999 that
confirmed that CJD had been the cause of our Daddy's death.  He was a very active,
intelligent man.


In July 1998 Daddy began to have a problem with his balance.   He had inner ear
problems before and thought that was causing the problem with his balance.  He
went to the doctor in September 1998 and was given Antevert.  This did not help
at all.


All during the progression of Daddy's illness, he worked many long hours at a
paper company.  He loved his work and was always a hard and willing worker.


Daddy began to have problems with his vision.  He had a lot of trouble driving
at night. Lights from passing cars hurt his eyes.   He also tired more quickly
than he ever had before.


Daddy had to leave work early on November 3, 1998.  He went back to his doctor.
The doctor had him to wear a heart monitor.  His doctor called and told Daddy
that he had an irregular heartbeat.  Daddy cried and said that he didn't want
to die.  This was another noticeable change in Daddy.  His emotions were hard
for him to control.  He cried quite often from November until mid December.  The
doctor prescribed Lopressor to help correct the irregular heartbeat.  It seemed
to us that the illness progressed very rapidly after this.


Daddy was sent to an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist because he was still having
balance problems.  This doctor told my mother and Daddy that there was a blockage
in one ear. Daddy cried.  He could not walk a straight line at this time.


On November 14, 1998 Daddy went to bed early because he was very tired.  Shortly
after he had laid down, he began to have strange feelings.  He told my mother and
youngest brother that he "just didn't feel right." He was crying all during this
also.  We immediately decided to take him to the Emergency Room.  He stayed all
night in CCU.  He was thoroughly checked out.  He was sent to a Neurologist.


November 18, 1998 Daddy saw the neurologist.  He was having even more balance
problems. This doctor thought that daddy might have had a light stroke.  Daddy
cried. Daddy was beginning to be noticeably forgetful.   Many tests were scheduled.


November 25, 1998 Daddy's doctor decided to gradually take him off the Lopressor.
Daddy continued to be very emotional and tire very easily.  Sometime in November
1998, daddy knew he was no longer able to work.  This was very sad to him.  He
loved his job and to work on his projects around the house.


December 1, 2, and 3, 1998 Daddy had an MRI, B12 Shillings test, MRA, Spinal Tap,
and EEG. All the tests came back normal.  All this time Daddy was needing more and
more help to take a bath, shave, and dress.  My mother would have to tell Daddy
step by step how to do all the normal routine tasks that we all take for granted.
Daddy was also becoming more and more confused.  My mother, who is a teacher,
decided that she needed to stay home to care for Daddy.


December 13, 1998 Daddy went with his brother to feed the fish and the hogs.
(Daddy had many hobbies-- ponds, gardening, building things, livestock, etc.)
He walked to the hog pen but had to be practically carried back from the hog
pen.  He also asked constantly about where our mother was. My husband and boys
said it was like his legs just quit working.  He also cried.


On December 14, 1998 one of my brothers and my mother took Daddy back to the
doctor.  We felt like we needed to take him to a larger hospital to be examined.
My brother insisted that he be sent for more evaluation.  Daddy's doctor agreed
and told my mother that she should be prepared that there may not be anything
that could be done to help my Daddy.  Daddy was extremely confused during all of
this.  He did not understand what was going on around him.


Daddy was sent to Atlanta's Emory Hospital where he was examined on December
17, 1998. Daddy cried the entire time he was being examined.  Daddy was told the
day and date by the doctor. When the doctor asked Daddy the day and date that he
had just been told, Daddy could not tell him what it was. Daddy was kept overnight
to be examined more thoroughly.  He could not walk without assistance.  At first
the doctors thought that Daddy had a fast type of Alzheimer's Disease.  Then on
December 18,1998 Daddy was dismissed without knowing exactly what was causing his
brain cells to die. The doctors told my mother and brother that Daddy had 6 months
to live.   The doctors said that a brain biopsy would have to be done to get an
accurate diagnosis. Daddy never realized what was happening to him after this
doctor's visit.  He never cried or even asked what the doctors had said.


When Daddy arrived at his home after this final doctor visit, he had this biggest
smile and said that he was glad to be at home. Daddy declined rapidly.  We could
see an almost hourly decline. All this time Daddy remained pleasant and agreeable
with whatever we helped him do.


Daddy had to be helped to do everything.  He was always very independent.  He didn't
seem to realize that he was being helped to walk, use the bathroom, feed himself,
or even to go to bed.


December 25, 1998--This was a hard day.  Daddy had tremendous difficulty opening
his Christmas presents.  His three grandchildren helped him.  We were all very
sad at the thought of this being Daddy's last Christmas with us.  He seemed very
happy.  He didn't realize it was Christmas or that he was not able to do normal
things.  Walking was becoming increasingly difficult even with help.


December 26, 1998--We noticed that Daddy's eyes were dilated constantly.  He was
also alarmed by sudden movements or noises like the telephone.  We had a wheelchair
for him. The first time he used it, he just smiled as though it was a great relief
not to have to struggle to walk.  He still seemed to recognize all the family and
friends that came to help us and to visit him.


Daddy had a Living Will that stated that he did not want any kind of life support,
nor did he want to be revived if there was no hope of getting better.  He had
Home Health Care services that started January 1, 1999.  On January 6, 1999 Daddy
was put in a hospital bed.  Daddy had begun to hold things in his mouth instead
of swallowing them.  The doctors had told my mother that he would soon not be able
to swallow.  This was apparently  what was happening.  Daddy began to have high
fevers.  He would shake and jerk suddenly.  He no longer recognized anyone.


January 7, 1999 Daddy was in a comatose state -- his eyes wouldn't close.


January 11, 1999 at 9:30 A.M. Daddy died very peacefully.  We do not have any
idea how Daddy contracted this awful disease.  It is horrible for the victim and
family members.  We need to find the cause and a cure as soon as possible.


Written by Carol Welch, Scott Braddy, and Brad Braddy - children of Billy Braddy