Mar 15, 1970 - Sep 2, 2009 

Michelle wrote the following in 1999.  It had been posted on the website for "Rolling Start Resource Center for Independent Living" in San Bernardino, CA:

My name is Michelle Culverson, I am 29 yrs. old. Since I was a teenager I always wanted to help out other people, I guess because I care and while I was growing up I helped out a lot with my mom, sister, and grandmother who was a person with developmental disabilities.

Favorites:  I love to read books, I like to go walking in the park, going to the beach, seeing new movies, and I love listening to music.

Education:  I received an A. A. from Mt. San Antonio College, I also received a certificate in Self-Esteem from Rolling Start.  Currently, I am working on becoming a peer counselor.

My Disability:  I was diagnosed with Huntington's Disease in '98.  My mom had Huntington's, so I had a 50-50% chance of getting it.  Huntington's affects the nervous system, destroys brain cells, causes involuntary body movements, and mental disturbances.  Right now, I am taking medication, which helps control my movement.  In March of '96, it was reported that there was the first successful fetal cell transplant that halted progression in some patients and reversed some of the deterioration.  Hopefully, pretty soon there will be a cure.

Hopes:  I hope to be Huntington's disease free, I want to move into my own place, I would like to run in a marathon, and become a peer counselor and run my own support group.

This is not an acutual photo of Michelle running in a marathon, but it was one of the many hopes that Michelle had.  We don't know if she was ever able to participate in a marathon, but we certainly hope so.