New Memoir “FALLING ANGELS” Sheds Light on the Silent Struggle of Families Battling Huntington’s Disease

(Temecula, CA) — In her deeply moving and unflinchingly honest memoir, FALLING ANGELS: A Rhapsody of DNA and A Family at War with Huntington’s Disease, Frances D. Saldaña opens a rare and intimate window into the world of a family facing one of the most devastating genetic disorders known to medicine, and the least understood by the public.

A tribute to her children, and a call to action, Falling Angels accompanies Saldaña from her euphoric and tender years of motherhood,through the inescapable reality of watching her three energetic children decline and lose the fight to Juvenile Huntington’s Disease (JHD), an aggressive and lesser-known form of HD that destroys an estimated 5–10% of victimswith juvenile onset of the fatal disease. To date, there is no cure or treatment for HD.With courage and heart, she exposes and challenges the personal toll, the institutional shortcomings of health and public policy, and the stigma that silences HD families.

Through descriptive narrative, we are introduced to Frances’s children, full of life, kindness, and hope, whose courage to fight in the face of impending total disability and eventual death is heartbreaking and inspiring. More than personal tragedy, the memoir is a crisis call: Huntington’s disease is as disabling as MS and ALS and Parkinson’s combined, and every child of a parent who carries the gene for HD has a 50/50 chance of inheriting the fatal disorder.

“For more than 30 years, I’ve fought to raise awareness for HD and to advocate for scientific research and compassionate policy change, promote respect, dignity and empathy for all HD families, along with a vision of excellence in patient care.” Saldaña says. “This book is not only my family’s story – it’s a plea to break the cycle of stigma associated with HD, and to unveil the urgency for a treatment of HD befor another generation is lost.”

Falling Angels is profoundly human, eye-opening, educational, and it speaks to families, caregivers, medical professionals, policymakers, law enforcement and the public. It aims to mobilize communities worldwide, from scientific organizations to legislators, to recognize the critical need for research funding, improved care standards, and the humanization of those living with HD.

About the Author
Frances D. Saldaña is a tireless advocate for Huntington’s Disease awareness, research, and patient rights. She has worked with HD families across the nation for over three decades, forging a united voice for change. Her story is a testament to resilience, community, and the enduring power of a mother’s love.

Media Contact:

Name: Frances D. Saldana
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 714/393-8095