Aware that Huntington’s ran in Janet’s family but unable to find out whether Janet would develop the condition since medical scientists had yet to isolate the gene, Janet and Eugene decided not to risk passing the condition onto a child and began looking into adoption.

May 18, 1985 

May 22, 1985

With the adoption confirmed and Natasha pronounced healthy she was taken home by Eugene and Janet Simons

Nat attended her first dance class a kinder-tots class she loved

Janet took Natasha to see SwanLake and Nat’s love affair with the ballet was formed

September 23, 1990

David was born and the Simons adopted their second child

December 25, 1997

Janet realises she’s showing the first minor symptoms of Huntington’s but hides it from her family.

Nat loses her virginity after feeling pressured to start a relationship with one of her

teachers Louis Rausseau who’s more than twice her age.

Eugene leaves Janet for another woman. Janet is devastated and it’s left to David

to pick up the pieces.

Janet’s financial worries begin when she refuses to sell the house and give

Eugene half the proceeds – instead she takes out a mortgage.

Janet is unable to mask her symptoms any longer and is officially diagnosed with

Huntington’s. She begs David not to tell his sister and so David is left caring for her

s she worsens.

Nat begins a relationship with a fellow dancer only to discover that even in a caring

relationship she couldn’t let go of the past and felt degraded and ashamed after

each sexual encounter. She ended the relationship.

Nat starts working at Ocean

Nat started her dance classes at the community centre, concentrating only

on ballet at first to see if there was enough interest.

Janet began needing fulltime care which Nat could not provide and still earn

enough money to support the family and pay the mortgage. So Janet had to

move into the Pleasant Port Nursing Home. David wanted to leave school to

care for his Mom but Nat wouldn’t let him, something which has further

damaged their relationship.