Thanks for taking the time to visit Susan Jane Potter's memorial page. 

My dear friend Mary-Lou's beautiful and lovely mum passed away on 26th March 2012 after suffering a short and unexpected illness called CJD.

Sue was a wonderful mum and grandmother and will be very sadly missed by her many close friends and colleagues as well as family.

All donations made here will go to the CJD Support Network.  CJD or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (sometimes known as Jakob-Creutzfeldt Disease) is one of a group of rare brain disorders known as prion diseases which occur both in humans and certain animals. The infectious agent, or prion, attacks the brain, killing cells. Gaps in brain tissue develop, giving the brain a characteristic sponge-like appearance under the microscope.

The cause is unknown. It mainly affects the over 50s and has a sudden onset. The course of the disease is measured in months.

 

Prions may exist in the body for many years before symptoms begin, but death may then result within a year. CJD usually attacks people over the age of 55.

The number of confirmed cases of CJD has risen steadily in recent years. This may be due to more accurate diagnosis and an increased awareness of the disease, but is also due to the emergence of a new form of the disease - variant CJD, or vCJD. This new form has been linked to a prion disease which affects cattle, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE. Variant CJD appears to affect younger people.

Please dig deep and donate whatever you can. 

Sending Mary-Lou and family much love and light.